Preface 1

Japanese 2

JRA Racing 3 Races 3 Betting 8 Customer Services 10 JRA Racecourses 12 JRA Training Centers 16 Other JRA-related Facilities 19

NAR Racing 21 Races 21 Betting 23 NAR Racing Education Center 23 Customer Services 24 Racecourses 25

Horse Racing-Related Activities 26 Breeding 26 Promotion of Equestrian Culture, livestock industry 28 Participation in International Racing Conference 29

References 31 A Brief History of Horse Racing in Japan 31 Outline of JRA Racing and Racing by Local Governments 33 Life Cycle of Racehorses 34 Horseracing Facilities and Breeding Areas 36 Facts and Figures 37 Main Achievements of Japan Trained Horses Abroad (GI Races) 44 Japan Association for International Racing Stud Book (JAIRS) 45 Directory 46

odern horse racing in Japan had its beginnings in racing events that were organized by foreign residents of Yokohama in 1862. In 1861, when Japan was about to move from the feudal system into the Meiji Restoration, foreign residents living in Yokohama, predominantly British, introduced the first Western-style horse racing by establishing the Yokohama Race Club to Japan. Western style horse racing was held in foreign enclaves, and hence, unfortunately, very little is known or recorded about initial era in Japan’s modern horse racing history.

At about the same time that the name of the Japanese central city was changed from Edo to Tokyo, Western-style horse racing began to be in the major metropolitan cities across the country. In 1906, the government embarked on a policy which tacitly allowed to bet. This led to the introduction of modern horse racing featuring sales of betting tickets in Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka and other metropolitan cities, from which most racing operations benefited.

However, this profitable system was short lived; two years later, the government prohibited betting and instituted a system of paying direct subsidies for prize money and other horse racing expenses.

During this subsequent period of government-subsidized horse racing, prominent legislators, businessmen, as well as breeders, began active efforts to introduce a horse racing law. Eventually the government began to take proactive position to promote horse racing in order to expand breeding in Japan and to improve quality of the Japanese horses. In 1923, horse racing legislation, so greatly desired by the horse racing industry, was enacted and led to the formation of 11 racing clubs. Horse racing accompanied by the legal sale of betting tickets was thus established. Shortly thereafter, the Imperial Racing Society was established as a horse racing authority of 11 racing clubs, and was responsible for the rules of racing, which served as a model for the rules of the individual racing clubs. The Imperial Racing Society defined the registration of racing colors, the education of trainers, and the licensing of jockeys, among other horse racing functions. The Horse racing Law underwent a major revision in 1936, which saw the formation of the Japan Racing Society which legally merged the 11 racing clubs and the Imperial Racing Society in their entirety, including their facilities and horse racing functions.

This reform brought favorable account on horse racing in Japan, constituting the Japanese Derby as well as other classic races, along with a complete change and improvement in racing itself. There were also dramatic increases in the turnover as well as attendance, marking the birth of modern horse racing in Japan as it exists today. In 1941, Saint Lite became the first Triple Crown winner in Japan.

However, during the latter part of World War II, the racecourses were forced to suspend operations and the most historic of the modern racecourses, Yokohama, was commanded by the government for military use.

The termination of hostilities saw an immediate resumption of horse racing, when in 1946, Tokyo and Kyoto began holding race meetings. Also, 1947 brought a new type of betting “quinella” for the first time in Japan. In 1948, a new Horse racing Law was introduced, whereby the Japan Racing Society was abolished and under the new law, the government (the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry) took total control of horse racing. Although this “government horse racing” continued much the same as before, the turnover did not increase throughout this extremely difficult period. In 1954, the Horse racing Law was amended again, to enact the Law. This established the Japan Racing Association, or as it is now known as JRA, which took over the entire horse racing functions and operations of government horse racing. These laws not only provided for “national racing” in Japan, but also for the legalization and operation of “regional public racing” as a separate system to that of national racing.

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orse racing in Japan is characterized by fair racing JRA operates 10 racecourses with eight of these holding which is held with integrity in a systematic, orderly both flat and jump racing. The remaining two racecourses manner as prescribed by the Horse racing Law of Japan. All only hold flat racing. In 2016, there were 3,454 races, which authorized racing in Japan, by law, must be conducted by the generated a betting turnover of ¥2.67 trillion. Japan Racing Association (JRA) (a public enterprise established by the national government) and local National Association of Racing (NAR; government entities. Furthermore, the law does not permit wagering to be operated by Local Governments) conducted by anyone other than racing authorities and racing esignated autonomous local municipalities and authorities must offer all wagers under a pari-mutuel formula. designated prefectural governments have held Racing Japan has to rank among countries around the world as one by Local Governments since 1948. NAR is the centralized in which horse racing is the most popular. organization and registry for Racing by Local Governments. Totally, Japan held 1,425 race meetings in 2016, with 16,346 This racing, like that of JRA, is under the oversight of the flat and jump races. The betting turnover is number one Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and operates worldwide, with total flat and jump purses that rank first in among other purposes to contribute to the finances of local the world. Globally, Japan also breeds the fifth highest governments. number of . The NAR was established in 1962 to standardize the

registration of local racing’s racehorse owners and

JRA Racing (operated by the Japan racehorses as well as to establish a licensing authority for

Racing Association) local racing trainers and jockeys nationwide. Racing by local

governments consists of 14 local governments located RA was established in 1954 by the enactment of the Japan throughout the country, which serve as organizers of the Racing Association Law to take over horse racing that had races held within their jurisdiction. These 14 local been operated by the national government. JRA operates governments are comprised of two prefectural governments, under the oversight of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry two municipal, and 10 joint-organizations. NAR is the and Fisheries. authority that oversees this racing. The main office of JRA which is located in Tokyo, acts as The 14 organizers of racing by local governments held the nerve center for the nationwide network of 10 14,531 races during 2016 at 17 tracks with a turnover of racecourses, the 42 off-course betting facilities called approximately ¥477 billion. They operated 17 flat tracks, “WINS” and other JRA related entities, and engages in which included two (Sapporo and Chukyo) on loan from activities concerning the direct or indirect development and JRA and one racecourse (Obihiro) which specializes in only operation of national horse racing. draft horse races. JRA is required to provide 10% of its gross betting turnover to the national treasury, as well as 50% of any surplus profits remaining at the end of the fiscal year. In fiscal 2016, JRA paid approximately ¥296 billion into the National Treasury, use of which is specified by law: three-quarters must be designated for improvement of livestock breeding and the remaining one-quarter for public or social welfare. JRA also contributes to horse breeding, as well as the propagation and promotion of other types of livestock programs. JRA also provides for the promotion of equestrian culture, thereby returning benefits to society as a whole. 2016 (The Grand Prix)

2 | HORSE RACING IN JAPAN 2017 levels of ability are always determined according to that measure. The highest level of these races is the open races, among RA holds thoroughbred flat races and jump races in Japan, which high-value races are considered graded races. In order with about half of the racing schedule for flat races is held to promote the broad recognition of the role and importance on turf and half on dirt courses. of grading the races and provide a benchmark for the breeding industry, graded race structure was implemented in Racing Calendar 1984. In 2007, Japan was promoted to Part I country of the International Cataloging Standards, and ever since, the RA is allowed to hold 36 meetings annually. A race number of Japanese graded races gaining international meeting is a maximum of 12 days, with racing held 288 recognition increased by the year, and in 2010, all Japanese days a year. As a general rule, race meetings must have a graded races were recognized as international graded races maximum of 12 races a day. and became open to foreign-trained horses. JRA also JRA racing days are in principle limited to weekends, on introduced a grading system to jump races in 1999, and there both Saturday and Sunday, with several exceptions for are now 10 graded Jump Races: J-GI (2 races), J-GII (3 national holidays. Special provisions exist for JRA to hold races) and J-GIII (5 races). racing during the weekdays in emergency circumstances. Number of JRA Races by Class in 2016

Classes No.of races (share %) 2016 JRA Races 3,454 Graded 128 (3.8) Flat races 3,326 (1,669 dirt/1,657 turf) Open 116 (3.5) Jump races 128 3-win 179 (5.4)

2-win 424 (12.7)

1-win 1,053 (31.7)

Newcomer 286 (8.6)

Maiden 1,140 (34.3)

Race Distance Racing Calendar he distance for two-year-old flat races must be 800 meters or longer, while the distance for three-year-olds and up must be 1,000 meters or longer. Race distance is gradually extended between horses making their debut as two-years Types of Races old and the spring of their three-year-old season, taking into account factors such as the horse’s growth and racing Racing Calendar RA racing is divided into two categories: flat and jump experience, so that by the time three-year-olds start racing. The conditions are set up to ensure that horses of competing against older horses, they can experience racing similar levels compete against each other. Horses are distances up to 2,400 meters or more. assigned in the categories according to the prize money In mixed races for three-years-olds and older horses, race value of the races. There are also handicap races, in which structure is created to appeal to the racing fans with variety relative differences in the abilities of runners are leveled by of distances, so that individual racehorses can fully bring out increasing or decreasing the weights to be carried of horses. their ability in speed and stamina. In some cases, competing horses are limited by sex, but in all The racing distance on turf for two-year-olds ranges from cases the amount of prize money earned is the standard, and 1,000 meters to 2,000 meters. Races between 1,400 meters

3 | to a mile account for the largest proportion of the total, 41%. Licenses and Registration Races over 1800 meters account for 36%, and then followed Racing Calendar by sprint races. For three-year-olds, the distance is set from Trainer Licenses the shortest at 1,000 meters up to 3,000 meters, with 44% of One must pass the JRA license examination to obtain a these races set at Intermediate and the next largest proportion trainer’s license in JRA racing. A trainer’s license is valid for in Mile. Lastly, the distance for three-year-olds and up one year and license renewal examinations are held annually. ranges from 1,000 meters up to 3,600 meters, with 37% of One must be 28 years of age or older to be eligible to take these races set at Intermediate. Next in order of numerical the test. Examination categories include racing regulations, percentage by distance are Mile and Sprint. hippology, tests on academic subjects, along with tests of equestrian skills, among other topics. Trainer’s examinations Number of JRA Races by Distance on Turf in 2016 are generally taken after experience has been gained as a Total flat races on turf 1,669 races jockey or stable hand. Trainers are required to be 1,000–1,200 m 338 races 20.2% knowledgeable about the training and supervision of 1,400–1,600 m 502 races 30.1% racehorses. They must also possess a variety of expertise pertaining to the education of young stable hands, jockeys, 1,700–2,000 m 641 races 38.4% stable operations and so forth. 2,200 m and over 188 races 11.3% Jockey Licenses

Only licensed jockeys may ride horses entered in races in

Prize Money Japan and one must pass the JRA license examination to

Racing Calendar obtain a jockey’s license to become a professional. A he purse for JRA races are awarded to the first five jockey’s license is valid for one year, and license renewal finishers. Depending on the races, there are other examinations are held annually. One must be 16 years old or incentive monies paid to the runners finishing from sixth to older to be eligible to take the test. Examination categories tenth place, and stakes money, registration fees borne by include racing regulations, hippology and other academic horse owners, which is distributed among the top three subjects along with a test of practical skills of the jockey’s finishers where applicable. techniques. In 2015, the two world-class riders, Italian Mirco The largest first-place purse is ¥300 million each for the Demuro and Frenchman were granted and Arima Kinen (The Grand Prix), and the full-term jockey licenses by JRA. There is also a short-term smallest is the ¥5 million for events held for winless three- license, limited to three months, issued to superior foreign year-olds and two-year-olds. The total prize money provided jockeys to ride in Japan. JRA and NAR operate jockey by JRA in 2016 was ¥99 billion. training schools to train jockeys, and the majority of

currently active jockeys have attended those schools. (Please

Trainer, Jockey, Groom Incomes refer to P19 for details on the JRA Horse Racing School)

Racing Calendar Horse Owner Registration rainers chiefly derive their income from owner-paid As a general rule, a person aspiring to become a racehorse contract fees and 10% of the prize money. Jockey income owner in Japan, must first be a resident of Japan (in the case consists of riding fees, 5% of the prize money, contract of non-Japanese, a resident alien), not have a criminal record training fees and salaries if they are directly employed by for imprisonable offenses. trainers. Grooms are paid a salary by trainers and about 5% Applicants must also demonstrate sufficient assets and of the prize money. income to possess a racehorse. Individuals, corporations and private groups (syndicates) may own racehorses, and the number enrolled in membership corporations has been increasing recently. Also, trainers, trainer's assistants, jockeys, stable hands and others who have direct contact with racing operations and racehorses may not become horse owners. JRA began accepting applications for owner registration for foreign persons who are non-Japanese residents in 2009. Further, details on this process are available at http://japanracing.jp/en/jpn-racing/jra/owner.html.

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Ensuring Integrity 1. Horses entering races 4. Limitations on offering/purchasing bets Horses must be stabled either at a training center or at the Only authorized racing authorities are permitted to offer racecourse stables 10 to 15 days before a race to ensure bets under Japanese law, so when anyone other than a racing integrity in horse racing and proper quarantine measures. authority offers bets, not only the seller, but also any person Stabling horses for a certain period until the day of the race who has purchased wagers from the illegal sellers will be and managing them is necessary to gain the credibility of severely punished. Moreover, anyone who offers bets via the racing fans. Internet from an overseas location, as well as anyone who purchases bets from such a concern, is similarly subject to 2. Jockeys severe punishment. After their mounts have been declared on the day before the race, jockeys are obliged to remain in the jockeys’ quarters 5. Stewards’ offices or jockey’s room until they mount their assigned horses. Stewards’ offices have been set up at both training centers These facilities are at racecourses, or training centers, and are and serve as bases for stable personnel and racehorses, and equipped so that jockeys can prepare themselves mentally there are several stewards on duty there around the clock. and physically to demonstrate their utmost abilities during The stewards are in constant communication with stable races. Furthermore, having jockeys under supervised personnel and patrol the training centers’ premises as needed custody in these facilities from the time their mounts have in an effort to ensure the safety of horses and personnel. been declared until after a race has finished also has the We are well aware that what is of the utmost importance in merit of preventing undesirable incidents that might affect the development and maintaining the support of many horse race outcomes. racing fans is the need to sustain a track environment that is sound and impartial, i.e. one that ensures integrity.

Jockey’s quarters

Racing official in monitor towers 3. Restricted entry in operational areas Racetracks strictly restrict anyone who might pose a risk of interfering with the safe running of races or the maintenance of good order inside the track. Additionally, from the perspective of ensuring horses’ safety, training centers and other facilities affiliated with racing also strictly limit admittance to only those who have obtained prior permission from racing authorities.

Stewards surveillance of the race

5 | International Relations and the GI 1,200-meter became legs of the Racing Calendar Global Sprint Challenge series. Hong Kong and Dubai apan’s horse racing industry has for many years imported joined subsequently, incorporating 10 Group 1 sprint races superior thoroughbreds from overseas for racing and hosted by five nations. The International Cataloguing breeding purposes as part of its efforts to improve horses Standard Committee elevated Japan to a Part 1 nation status bred in Japan and to enhance their racing stamina. in 2007 as a result of Japan opening more than half of its JRA established the Japan Cup, an international invitational graded races to foreign-trained horses. All JRA flat graded race, in 1981 in an attempt to verify the results of efforts to races have been opened to foreign-trained horses since 2010. improve horses bred in Japan and to inject new vitality into (Please refer to Page 44 “Main Achievements of Japan Japanese horse racing. This race, pitting champion horses Trained Horses Abroad (GI Races)”) from four continents against each other, has gained The introduction of the world’s leading jockeys has also acceptance as an event to determine the world’s turf raised the level of JRA racing. The World Super Jockeys champion and has subsequently served as a model of how to Series was inaugurated in 1987 in an attempt to improve the establish international invitational races in various countries. riding skills of Japanese jockeys and to promote international Japan’s horse racing industry has rapidly absorbed the friendship. This series has become a fixture on the global expertise of advanced horse racing nations through the Japan racing calendar and it has welcomed more than 200 top- Cup and has managed to join their ranks. The race is highly caliber jockeys from Europe, North America, Oceania and rated around the world and the International Cataloguing Asia. It has been renamed as the World All-Star Jockeys and Standard Committee conferred a Part 1 race rating on the altered in schedule and venue in 2015, and this year will be Japan Cup in 1992. held on last weekend of August at Sapporo Racecourse on JRA graded races that have systematically been opening up the northern island of Hokkaido. Also, each year, JRA holds to foreign-trained horses since 1993 have steadily obtained trophy exchange races with various racing authorities from Part 1 ratings. The Global Sprint Challenge (GSC) was foreign countries to deepen international relations and established in 2005 with Racing Victoria, goodwill. and JRA, and the GI 1,200-meter

2016 World All-Star Jockeys 2016 Japan Cup (winner: )

2016 (winner: ) 2016 (winner: )

6 | HORSE RACING IN JAPAN 2017 2017 JRA Graded I Races (Flat races) Date Race Course Distance (m) Age/Sex Feb. 19 (GI) Tokyo 1,600 / Dirt 4yo & up Takamatsunomiya Kinen (GI) Mar. 26 Chukyo 1,200 / Turf 4yo & up (3rd Leg of the Global Sprint Challenge) Apr. 2 Osaka Hai (GI) Hanshin 2,000 / Turf 4yo & up (Japanese 1000 Guineas) (GI) Apr. 9 Hanshin 1,600 / Turf 3yo Fillies (1st leg of fillies’ triple crown) (Japanese 2000 Guineas) (GI) Apr. 16 Nakayama 2,000 / Turf 3yo No Geldings (1st leg of triple crown) Apr. 30 (Spring)(GI) Kyoto 3,200 / Turf 4yo & up May 7 NHK Mile Cup (GI) Tokyo 1,600 / Turf 3yo No Geldings May 14 (GI) Tokyo 1,600 / Turf 4yo & up Fillies & Mares (Japanese Oaks) (GI) May 21 Tokyo 2,400 / Turf 3yo Fillies (2nd leg of fillies’ triple crown) Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) (GI) May 28 Tokyo 2,400 / Turf 3yo No Geldings (2nd leg of triple crown) Jun. 4 Yasuda Kinen (GI) Tokyo 1,600 / Turf 3yo & up Jun. 25 Takarazuka Kinen (GI) Hanshin 2,200 / Turf 3yo & up Sprinters Stakes (GI) Oct. 1 Nakayama 1,200 / Turf 3yo & up (8th Leg of the Global Sprint Challenge) (GI) Oct. 15 Kyoto 2,000 / Turf 3yo Fillies (Final leg of fillies’ triple crown) Kikuka Sho (Japanese St. Leger) (GI) Oct. 22 Kyoto 3,000 / Turf 3yo No Geldings (Final leg of triple crown) Oct. 29 Tenno Sho (Autumn) (GI) Tokyo 2,000 / Turf 3yo & up Japan Autumn International Nov. 12 Kyoto 2,200 / Turf 3yo & up Fillies & Mares Queen Elizabeth II Cup (GI) Japan Autumn International Nov. 19 Kyoto 1,600 / Turf 3yo & up (GI) Japan Autumn International Nov. 26 Japan Cup (GI) Tokyo 2,400 / Turf 3yo & up (International Invitational) Japan Autumn International Dec. 3 Chukyo 1,800 / Dirt 3yo & up Champions Cup (G1) Dec. 10 (GI) Hanshin 1,600 / Turf 2yo Fillies Dec. 17 Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes (GI) Hanshin 1,600 / Turf 2yo No Geldings Dec. 24 Arima Kinen (The Grand Prix) (GI) Nakayama 2,500 / Turf 3yo & up Dec. 28 (GI) Nakayama 2,000 / Turf 2yo No Geldings

2017 JRA International Jump Races Date Race Course Distance (m) Age/Sex Mar. 25 Pegasus Jump Stakes Nakayama 3,350 / Turf 4yo & up Apr. 15 (J-GI) Nakayama 4,250 / Turf 4yo & up Dec. 23 (J-GI) Nakayama 4,100 / Turf 3yo & up

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Deduction Rate Racing Calendar ari-mutuel betting is the sole form of wagering for horse RA deducts about 25% of the total betting turnover racing in Japan under the Horse racing Law. JRA and (deduction rates are between 20 % and 30% depending on local racing authorities are the only organizations authorized the bet type), and the remaining 75% is allocated by law to legally conduct betting operations on horse racing. proportionally among winning bettors, depending on the As such, there are no legal private bookmakers or betting amounts of their bets. Of this 25%, 10% is disbursed to the companies. national government in a payment to the national treasury, However, in accordance with the amended horse racing law and the remaining 15% is allocated to, among other things, (in force from January 1, 2005), which permits subcontracting operating expenses and prize money. If there are any surplus of business matters related to the running of horse races, JRA profits remaining at the end of the fiscal year, 50 % of which is permitted to contract out the offering of bets and the is also disbursed to the national government. issuance of payouts or refunds to prefectural/municipal governments or private citizens and the prefectural/ JRA House Take Percentages municipal governments can consign them to other Operation prefectural/municipal governments, JRA, or private citizens. Expenses and Prize Money Types of Bets 15%

Racing Calendar National s of 2016, JRA offers nine types of bets: win, place, Government bracket number quinella, horse number quinella, 10% quinella place (“wide”), exacta, trio, trifecta and Pick5 “WIN5.” As shown in the pie graph, trifecta makes up around 32.8% of total turnover. Of these, bracket number Allocated Winning quinella is unique to Japan. In the case of bracket number Bet 75% quinella, horses entered in a race are first coupled into a total of eight brackets (of one horse or more in each bracket). Fans select two brackets in a quinella-style bet and if one Off-Course Betting Facilities horse from each of those brackets comes in first or second Racing Calendar (regardless of order of finish), the bet is a winner. And in RA has 42 “WINS” off-course betting facilities April 2011, JRA began offering the new Pick5 “WIN5” nationwide and the 10 JRA racecourses which do not hold wagers, which involve predicting the winners of five races also function as off-course betting facilities. Several of designated races each Sunday. The maximum payout is ¥600 these have membership regulations, with restrictions on the million. number of people permitted in, offering a luxurious, salon- style environment in which to enjoy horse racing. 2016 JRA Betting Turnover (total turnover ¥2,670.880.261.600)

Pick5 Win Place 5.6% 8.1% "WIN5" 1.3% Bracket Number Trifecta Quinella 32.8% 3.4%

Horse Number Quinella 14.5%

Trio Quinella Exacta

19.9% Place 7.2% Excel floor 7.2% (fixed capacity system with entry in order of arrival that day and admission charged) 8 | HORSE RACING IN JAPAN 2017

IPAT(PC) WINS Korakuen

Telephone Betting Racing Calendar RA began offering telephone wagers in 1974. Individual members who have signed a contract have payments of wager amounts and transfers of payouts handled automatically via designated bank accounts. There are four forms of memberships: A-PAT (dedicated bank account for ARS, PAT and IPAT systems), Soku-PAT (Internet bank for I-PAT system), JRA Direct (Credit Card for IPAT system; PC only) and ARS (dedicated bank account for ARS system). As of December 31, 2016, A-PAT had 1,711,500 members, Soku-PAT 2,048,995, JRA Direct 50,855 and ARS 18,795.

IPAT(PC) ARS (Audio Response System) Bettors must use touch-tone styled telephones to place their bet.

PAT (Personal Access Terminal) This home-use system is designed for use with personal computers, TV game devices, or other related devices that can be directly connected to JRA’s PAT system. As well as a method for betting, this system offers information of interest to bettors, such as race entrants, odds and payouts.

IPAT (Internet Betting) This system began operations in March 2002 and enables PAT subscribers to place bets easily over the Internet via cell IPAT(Smart Phone) phones, smart phone or personal computers.

Telephone wagers and WINS (including tracks not hosting races) turnover make up 65.0% and 31.7% of JRA’s total n October 2012, JRA and NAR developed a new turnover respectively, accounting for a vast majority of the integrated totalizator system, which connects the two handle. betting centers. This makes it possible to bet on the NAR races through a membership of JRA’s internet betting system and NAR racing fans can buy JRA bets at designated NAR racecourses.

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acing organizers must bear in mind that during the conduct of races, the provision of fair races and the offering of wagers go hand-in-hand. This is not just from the aspect of betting, but on the basis of enhancing the attractiveness of racing itself. Organizers need to continually strive toward the development of all-around leisure with racing as the centerpiece, so that fans can enjoy a variety of services in pleasant, general-purpose leisure facilities. Surveys and Internet monitor programs are employed, In Japan, racetracks have been developed into comprehensive leisure facilities. telephone and written requests are gathered, and analyses of conditions in other leisure industries are conducted to gain an understanding of fan requirements. Using such data, JRA plans and implements the specialized services that fans desire. Customer services offered at JRA races can be broadly categorized as follows:

Enhancing the appeal of racing itself Racing Calendar nhancing the appeal of racing itself means promoting the enjoyment of racing and the allure of trying to choose the winner, which are the fundamental ingredients (value and quality) that racing possesses. JRA strives to offer fair, world- class races incorporated into the best racing fixtures possible, in order to meet fans’ needs and meet their expectations.

Giant Turf Vision monitor

Provide the best of “hardware” services Racing Calendar he second point is endeavoring to enhance services for fans from the standpoint of the “hardware” on site, to Centaur garden at create an environment of enjoyment at all-around leisure facilities.

Specific examples: ・Upgrading and refurbishing grandstands. ・Improving image transmission systems, media and other information-related facilities. ・Expanding separate smoking and non-smoking areas, playgrounds, greenery and design within venues and providing more parking areas.

Horse rides

10 | HORSE RACING IN JAPAN 2017 Provide the best of “software” services Gate J Racing Calendar Racing Calendar he third item is offering fans “software” amenities, along n order to promote broader understanding of the with various types of hospitality that are both convenient intricacies of horse racing culture by providing a wide and satisfying for our horse racing aficionados. range of information related to horses in casual fashion, JRA opened the “Gate J.” in a popular business district in Tokyo. Specific examples The facility features videos of horses and horse racing from ・Promoting methods of customer service. Japan and around the ・Improving information services, such as the provision world on large screens of information through image transmission systems and and in film libraries, as the like, improving public information locations on and well as gift shops and off course, enhancing racing programs and expanding areas where visitors can live racing broadcasts. pick up information

Further, JRA provides the following additional services for about JRA. This facility race fans as additional incentives: acts as a pilot shop to provide information about horse racing. ・Free Pass Days (Admission to racecourses is free)

・“Racing Class (REXS)” for beginners. REXS is an

abbreviation for “Racing EXpert Seminar” which Green Channel and other services

consists of two participatory classes on horse racing. Racing Calendar RA established a broadcasting channel called the Green ・ Racecourse Attendance Points Campaign, where Channel in 1994 as a service to provide fans with customers can accumulate points by going to any of the extensive racing footage in their own homes. Anyone who 10 JRA racecourses and will be given various gifts subscribes to the CS once points accumulated. digital broadcast or CATV ・Campaigns using animated characters and JRA mascot can enjoy this channel. TURFY to increase understanding towards horse JRA also hosts the Racing racing Viewer, which distributes ・Events Attended by Jockeys and Equestrian Campaigns videos of races over the ・Special website targeting horse racing beginners by Internet. collaborating with popular anime catoorns

JRA places strong emphasis on advertising the unique Website excitement that only horse racing can provide. Current Racing Calendar activities involve holding various events to new fans to he personal computer version of JRA website (jra.jp) was the attractions held at racecourses on race days. The major launched in 1997, and the mobile phone version in 2005. racecourses have special spaces for such events. Playgrounds It draws many visitors, who use it mostly to view race day and its equipment have been constructed to keep children information such as race cards, race results, and payouts. The entertained. JRA runs television advertisements to announce number of page views has increased every year since the site the graded races and raise the profile of horse racing. In was launched. In addition to race day information, the site publicizing races, JRA features popular actors and actresses offers a wealth of other information, including event in its advertisements to boost the image of the JRA and horse information held racing among the general public, and to attract younger at racecourses or generations who have had no contact with horse racing. WINS, horseback Regarding brand advertising, each year JRA creates an riding information, advertisement based on a horse-related catchphrase that event information, conveys the beauty and power of racehorses that cannot be race analysis and completely conveyed in more general television introduction of commercials that promote specific races. Through these PR graded races. programs and television commercials, JRA hopes to bring even more enjoyment to racing fans.

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okyo, Nakayama, Kyoto and Hanshin are known as the “big four” of the 10 JRA racecourses, and, along with Chukyo, all GI races are held at these five courses. Three racecourses - Tokyo, Niigata and Chukyo - have counterclockwise courses and the other tracks are right handed.

TOKYO RACECOURSE

Offering a view of Mt. Fuji to the southwest, this is JRA’s largest racecourse. It is host to the February Stakes (GI), NHK Mile Cup (GI), Victoria Mile (GI), Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks) (GI), Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) (GI), Yasuda Kinen (GI), Tenno Sho (Autumn) (GI) and Japan Cup (GI). Thrilling races take place down a 530-meterlong homestretch. The refurbishment of the grandstand was completed in the spring of 2007. This facility can now seat more than 120,000. Main course (turf) Length Width A Course 2,083.1 m 31–41 m B Course 2,101.9 m 28–38 m C Course 2,120.8 m 25–35 m D Course 2,139.6 m 22–32 m Dirt course Length Width 1,899.0 m 25 m Jump course (turf) Length Width 1,674.7 m 25 m

NAKAYAMA RACECOURSE This racecourse holds the Nakayama Grand Jump (J-GI), Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) (GI), Sprinters Stakes (GI), Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes (GI), Nakayama Daishogai (J-GI), Arima Kinen (The Grand Prix) (GI) and Hopeful Stakes (G1). The rising slope along the final 200 meters of the homestretch adds to the interest of races. The steeplechase course has three inclining steeps unique to Nakayama.

Main course (turf) Oval track: Length Width Inner oval A 1,667.1 m 20–32 m B 1,686.0 m 17–29m C 1,704.8 m 14–26 m Outer oval A 1,839.7 m 24–32 m B 1,858.5m 21–29m C 1,877.3 m 18–26 m Dirt course (Oval) Length Width 1,493.0 m 20–25 m Jump course (turf) Length Width O-line 1,456.4 m 20–30 m X-line 447.5 m and 424.3 m 20–30 m

12 | HORSE RACING IN JAPAN 2017

KYOTO RACECOURSE Built in 1924, Kyoto Racecourse is the premier racecourse in Western Japan. Kyoto Racecourse holds the same number of race meetings as other major racecourses, with five meetings a year. In 2007, a multi-screen Turf Vision on the same scale as that of Tokyo was installed to enhance the provision of video and information at the track. Major races are the Tenno Sho (Spring)(G1), Shuka Sho (G1), Kikuka Sho (Japanese St. Leger)(G1), Queen Elizabeth II (G1) and Mile Championship (G1). The ability to overcome the inclination at the far turn of this track is said to be the deciding factor for races at Kyoto.

Main course (turf) Length Width Inner oval Outer oval A Course 1,782.8 m 1,894.3 m 27–38 m B Course 1,802.2 m 1,913.6 m 24–35 m C Course 1,821.1 m 1,932.4 m 21–32 m D Course 1,839.9 m 1,951.3 m 18–29 m Dirt course Length Width Oval 1,607.6 m 25 m Jump course (turf) Length Width Normal 1,413.8 m 23 m Grand 1,399.8 m 20 m

HANSHIN RACECOURSE

First built on its present location in 1948, Hanshin Racecourse joins Kyoto Racecourse as the second of the two feature racecourses in Western Japan. Hanshin has the same number of race meetings as Kyoto and the two racecourses alternate race meeting. Its uniquely long corners, as well as a steep rise just before the finish line, are the major characteristics of this racecourse. Major races are Osaka Hai (G1), Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas) (G1), Takarazuka Kinen (G1), Hanshin Juvenile Fillies (G1) and Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes (GI). Turf course (inner oval) Course Length Width Homestretch length Undulation A 1,689.0 m 24–28 m 356.5 m 1.9m B 1,713.2 m 20–25 m 359.1 m

Turf course (outer oval)

Course Length Width Homestretch length Undulation

A 2,089.0 m 24–29 m 473.6 m 2.4 m B 2,113.2 m 20–25 m 476.3 m

Dirt course Length Width Homestretch length Undulation 1,517.6 m 22–25 m 352.7 m 1.6 m

Steeplechase track (Turf) O-line Length Width Homestretch length Undulation 1,366.7 m 20.5 m 403.7 m 1.3 m

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CHUKYO RACECOURSE Chukyo Racecourse outside of Nagoya reopened in March 2012, after nearly two years of renovation work. The turf course has been lengthened by over 100 meters and now measures 1,705.9 meters around with a 412.5-meter homestretch. The dirt course, now measures 1,530 meters with a 410.7-meter final homestretch, making it the longest dirt stretch in Western Japan. The 1,200-meter Takamatsunomiya Kinen (GI) is held on the turf and the 1,800-meter Champions Cup (G1) is held on the dirt.

Main course (turf) Length Width A Course 1,705.9 m 28–30 m B Course 1,724.8 m 25–27m Dirt course Length Width 1,530 m 25 m

SAPPORO RACECOURSE

This racecourse, located in Sapporo City, the largest city on the northern island of Hokkaido, has two race meetings each year. The major races are the (G2), Queen Stakes (G3), Elm Stakes (G3), Keeneland Cup (G3) and Sapporo Nisai Stakes (G3). The refurbishment of the grandstand was completed in July 2014.

Main course (turf) Length Width A Course 1,640.9 m 25–27 m B Course 1,650.4m 23.5–25.5m C Course 1,659.8 m 22–24 m Dirt course Length Width 1,487.0 m 20 m

HAKODATE RACECOURSE

Situated in Hakodate City in Hokkaido, this racecourse has two race meetings each year. Major races are the Hakodate Sprint Stakes (G3), Hakodate Kinen (G3) and Hakodate Nisai Stakes (G3). The refurbishment of the grandstand was completed in June 2010.

Main course (turf) Length Width A Course 1,626.6 m 29 m B Course 1,651.8 m 25 m C Course 1,675.8 m 21–22 m

Dirt course Length Width 1,475.8 m 20 m

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FUKUSHIMA RACECOURSE Located in Fukushima City in northern Honshu, this racecourse holds three race meetings annually. Major races are the Fukushima Himba Stakes (G3), Radio (G3), Tanabata Sho (G3), and Fukushima Kinen (G3).

Main course (turf)

Length Width

A Course 1,600.0 m 25–27 m

B Course 1,614.1 m 22.5–25 m

C Course 1,628.1 m 20–23 m

Dirt course

Length Width

1,444.6 m 20–25 m

Jump course (turf)

Length Width

S-line 490.9 m 17.6-20 m

NIIGATA RACECOURSE

This racecourse is located in Niigata City alongside of the Japan Sea. Niigata Racecourse was completely renovated in 2001. Major races are the Sekiya Kinen (G3), Niigata Kinen (G3), Niigata Daishoten (G3), Niigata Nisai Stakes (G3), the Leopard Stakes (G3) and Ibis Summer Dash (G3), the only JRA graded race held over the 1,000-meter straight course.

Main course (turf) Length Width Inner oval Outer oval A Course 1,623.0 m 2,223.0 m 25 m B Course 1,648.1 m 2,248.1 m 21 m Dirt course Length Width 1,472.5 m 20 m Straightaway course Length 1,000.0 m

KOKURA RACECOURSE Located in the foremost industrial city of Kitakyushu on the island of Kyushu, Kokura Racecourse holds three race meetings a year. Its major races are the Kitakyushu Kinen (G3), Kokura Kinen (G3), Kokura Nisai Stakes (G3), Kokura Daishoten (G3) and Kokura Summer Jump (J-G3).

Main course (turf) Length Width A Course 1,615.1 m 30 m B Course 1,633.9 m 27 m C Course 1,652.8 m 24 m Dirt course Length Width 1,445.4 m 24 m Jump course (turf) Length Width O-line 1,309.0 m 16–20 m S-line 415.7 m

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JRA Training Centers must be trained at the training centers for a set period (10 days for horses with racing experience and 15 days or more wo training centers have been established by JRA to for those that have not raced) before races are run. provide horses with the conditioning they need to put on In addition to oval tracks configured to conform to actual the best of races. They are in Miho, Ibaraki Prefecture, in race situations, there are sharp uphill training tracks, turf, dirt, eastern Japan and Ritto, Shiga Prefecture, in western Japan. woodchip, new poly track to suit any training objective. These expansive 50- to 60-hectare sites are equipped with Thorough track supervision to ensure the safety of horses in stables, clinics for the racehorses, lodging facilities, medical training includes leveling out the dirt course, sprinkling clinics and various other facilities for the benefit of the over antifreeze agents on tracks in winter and water in summer. 2,000 racehorses stabled there and the people who take care New training facilities are steadily being built to keep pace of them. The facilities operate 24 hours a day so that the with diversification in training methods. These new racing runs smoothly; the fairness of races is ensured; the improvements enable training to proceed in a wide variety of horses’ safety, health and hygiene are maintained; and forms and have greatly contributed to finely conditioned information is provided to fans. Horses to be entered in races horses.

RITTO TRAINING CENTER

Total Area: 1,518,790 m2 Stable Accommodations: 2,312 Courses: A Course: (Steeplechase) 1,450 m × 20 m (turf) B Course: 1,600 m × 20 m (dirt) C-W Course: 1,800 m × 20 m (woodchip)

D Course: 1,950 m × 14 m (turf) D-P Course: 2,038 m × 14 m (new polytrack) E Course: 2,200 m × 30 m (dirt) Uphill Course: 1,085 m × 7 m (woodchip) difference in elevation: 32 m Woodchip riding : 2,300 m × 7 m (woodchip) Swimming pool: 50 × 3-meter circle, 3 meters deep Other: 2 straight lanes, Water treadmill Equine clinic

North Track A Course (steeplechase):

1,370 m × 12.5 m inner dirt 1,436 m × 12.5 m outer turf B Course: 1,600 m (dirt) × 20 m (dirt) C Course: 1,800 m (dirt) × 20 m (dirt) Swimming pool: 44 × 3-meter circle, 3.0 meters deep Other: 2 straight lanes, Water treadmill

South Track A Course: 1,370 m × 25m (dirt) B Course: 1,600 m × 20 m (woodchip) C Course (inner): 1,800 m × 8-10 m (turf) C Course (outer): 1,858 m × 15 m (new polytrack)

D Course: 2,000 m × 20-30m (dirt) MIHO TRAINING CENTER Uphill Course: 1,200 m × 12 m (woodchip) 2 Difference in elevation: 18 m Total Area: 2,241,263 m

Stable Accommodations: 2,348 Equine clinic Woodland bridle path:

1,000 m × 15 m turf 1,744 m × 3.5–7 m bark

16 | HORSE RACING IN JAPAN 2017 Starting Gate Training Water Treadmill

orses must pass a starting gate test to be able to enter a n underwater treadmill device is designed to provide a race. At the training centers, an important part of training workout using water resistance while reducing the stress is rehearsing entering the gate and preparing for the start. of body weight on the legs.

Uphill Course Woodland Riding Trail

n this woodchip track, workout times are electronically nature trail that weaves through the woods was created measured at 200-meter intervals, using IC tags attached to to visually and aurally relax the horses. There are each horse. These times are then released to the public. streams for horses to walk in, waterfalls, and artificial misting devices along the riding path.

Indoor Heated Pool Racehorse Hospital

raining is conducted year-round in this circular pool, with comprehensive medical facility for racehorses is operated pool and air temperatures maintained at around 25 by approximately 30 JRA veterinarians. They are degrees centigrade throughout the year. primarily engaged in racehorse health management, diagnosis and treatment of sick horses, prevention of communicable diseases, checkups for horses scheduled to race, consulting services related to training and stabling, and educational efforts related to health and hygiene ideas.

17 | Training Stands

rainers and others involved with horses can observe the Early in the morning of the race day, runners are condition of the horses during workouts on the track from transported from the training center to each site, such as here. Final workouts, training held three to four days before Tokyo, Nakayama, Kyoto, Hanshin or Chukyo a race, and recording of training times are done, and racecourses. members of the media gather information for stories from here. Ritto Training Center to: Kyoto Racecourse (45 km) Hanshin Racecourse (85 km) Chukyo Racecourse (150 km)

Miho Training Center to:

Tokyo Racecourse (120 km)

Nakayama Racecourse (75 km)

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JRA Horse Racing School

he JRA Horse racing School was established in Shiroi City, Chiba Prefecture in 1982, with the aim of cultivating jockeys and stable staff with the knowledge and skills needed to adapt to the change of the times. Anyone who wants to acquire a jockey’s license and ride in JRA races must attend the JRA Horse racing School. The current curriculum features a three- year course for jockeys, in which the students go through the practical work in the stables, step-by-step drills in equestrian riding and practical training in preparation for racing. The school also has a six-month course for stable employees. The 264,500-square meter site has a 1,400-meter dirt track and is also home to the international quarantine stables used for quarantining horses entering Japan. Prospective students are required to pass an entrance examination for enrollment in either course. Students who wish to enroll in the jockey course must meet the following requirements: a) Age: Must be under 20 years old when entering the school, and must have graduated from junior high school or an equivalent educational institution. b) Weight: Must be 46.5kg (or lower, depending on age) when entering school. c) Eyesight: Over 0.8 for both eyes (without glasses or contact lenses) d) Must have color visibility, hearing ability, and must be in good health. e) Prospective students must not have any imprisonment records, or have been fined by breaking Horse racing Law or other gambling-related laws. Also he/she must not have any record of suspension or termination of involvement with horse racing by law. After completion of the course, the prospective jockeys may take the jockey’s license examination and the stable employees are eligible, with JRA approval, to be employed by trainers licensed by JRA.

JRA Equestrian Park

Note: JRA's Equestrian Park will be closed from December 31, 2016 until the autumn of 2022 for the facilities improvement. In the summer of 2020, the equestrian events in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games will be held at the park.

RA Equestrian Park in Setagaya, Tokyo, was constructed in 1940 to promote equestrian events and for the training of prospective jockeys. During the 18th Olympic Games in 1964, it hosted some of the equestrian events, and at one time, the park was used for the training and education of prospective JRA jockeys. Today it is the center of equestrian events in Japan. The park occupies an area of 185,000 square meters, including stables, an equestrian competition field, and office buildings. The park currently undertakes a variety of promotional activities to encourage familiarity with horses and increase understanding of horses and racing. Along with events that afford opportunities for direct contact with horses, such as Hippophile Day, horse shows, Horse Familiarity Day, and weekday attractions involving interaction with horses for area residents, the park hosts an equestrian competition almost every weekend as part of its efforts to promote equestrian culture by providing its venues for events and competition. Known familiarly as “Horse Park” in the urban area, the park is also open to the public all year round and contributes to the local community.

19 | JRA Equine Research Institute

his JRA-affiliated institution was founded in 1959 with the goal of maintaining racehorse resources and running races efficiently. Its principal aims subsequently became the prevention of injuries to racehorses and research into developing strong horses. Its research is not limited to active racehorses, as it has conducted successful research on breeding and training, which has been widely applied at training centers and private training farms, as well as in breeding regions. The institute has two branches: Joban Branch and Tochigi Branch. The primary function of the Joban Branch is to provide rehabilitation facility which includes balneotherapy and physiotherapy. Various forms of medical research are also conducted at the branch. The Tochigi Branch, Epizootic Research Center was established as a research laboratory for equine infectious diseases in June 1970. This unit is the only laboratory conducting research needed for the prevention and control of equine infectious diseases in Japan.

JRA Yearling Training Farms

RA owns two yearling training farms – Hidaka Yearling Training Farm in Hokkaido and Miyazaki Yearling Training Farm in Kyushu Island - and conducts basic training on about 80 yearlings purchased at various sales until the spring of their 2-years- old season. The information and training data obtained during this period, as well as improved methods, are passed on broadly to breeders and training farms, and used to improve Japan’s racing industry. After the research in the basic training period, the horses are sold in the training sales such as the JRA Breeze Up Sale, and then follow-up research is conducted on how they perform as racehorses. As a horseracing organization, the JRA’s comprehensive research system involving actual horses is unparalleled anywhere in the world.

Laboratory of Racing Chemistry

his laboratory is responsible for all DNA testing of racehorses in Japan. The laboratory and its research facilities were established in 1965 as Japan’s only testing institute for horses, as well as the only one which provides dedicated research within that field. The laboratory is primarily concerned with drug testing for racehorses, indispensable for ensuring fair races. It also provides blood and DNA analysis to maintain accurate pedigrees. This research institute was chartered as an experimental laboratory eligible for ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation in 2004.

Museums

he JRA Racing Museum opened at Tokyo Racecourse in 1991. The museum’s main theme is horse racing, tracing the sport’s development to the present day through exhibits on famous horses of the past. Exhibit materials cover racing not just in Japan, but also that of other countries. The Equine Museum of Japan was built on the site of the former Yokohama Racecourse, the birthplace of modern horse racing in Japan, in Negishi, Yokohama, and was opened in 1977. This museum’s functions are the collection, preservation and study of a broad range of materials on the relationship between people and horses.

20 | HORSE RACING IN JAPAN 2017 he biggest difference between racing conducted by the JRA and Racing by Local Governments is that JRA returns a percentage of its revenue to the national treasury, Ban-ei (Draft Horse Racing) whereas Racing by Local Governments contributes to the Ban-ei racing is a unique kind of racing that is held only in finances of the individual local government. Also, the Hokkaido by local governmentt racing. It consists of draft majority of race meetings by local governments is conducted horses weighing from 800 to 1,200 kg competing by pulling on weekdays during the day. The National Association for a sled with a jockey and a prescrribed heavy load over a 200- Racing (NAR) oversees the 14 racing organizers throughout meter dirt track that has two humps along the course. the country.

ll races held by NAR are flat races on dirt surface, with the exception of Ban-ei (Draft Horse Racing) at Obihiro Racecourse and turf races held at Morioka Racecourse – the only racecourse in local government racing with a turf surface. In 2016, there were a total of 1,286 racing days with 14,531 History races held by local governments at the 17 racecourses. A The origin of draft horse racinng dates back to Hokkaido’s total of 140,916 horses ran, with an average of 9.7 races per pioneer days, when contests of strength between horses used horse, in 2016. to transport lumber were held ffoor celebrations and festivals. Jump racing and , which had been run in the Dosanko (Hokkaido breds) annd other plow horse breeds past, are currently not conducted due to declining numbers native to Japan were used at the time. Belgian, Breton and of available horses and jockeys. Percheron lineage horses were then used after their subsequent introdud ction from Europe. Today, cross breeds Number of Flat Racing Days and Flat Races between these three varieties, called “half breeds,” or with native breeds are predominate, while purebreds are on the decline. The organized racing system was inaugurated by the racing authorities in 1946 and has continued to the present.

©NARA

21 | Racing Calendar Prize Money (purse)

ace meetings can last up to six days for racing imilar to JRA racing, prize money is generally allocated to conducted by government-designated prefectures and the owners of the first five finishers in NAR racing. municipalities. A total of 1,286 meetings were held in 2016 However, there is a huge disparity between the purses in NAR. offered by different organizers. The highest purses are paid in thoroughbred races, and the largest first-place purse is NAR racing is conducted mainly on weekdays. There ¥136 million for the JBC Classic. The total prize money in are differences in the schedules of racecourses in the Racing by Local Governments in 2016 was ¥16.3 billion. metropolitan areas of Kanto, Tokai, Kansai and Hokkaido, The system for distributing prize money to trainers, jockeys and those of racecourses in other regions. Racecourses in and grooms are similar to that of JRA racing. major urban areas and Hokkaido hold their races on weekdays in order to avoid competition with JRA. On the International Relations other hand, in regions that are largely unaffected by JRA meetings, racing is primarily held on Saturdays and AR first held its international invitation race in 1978, and Sundays, when it is easier to attract local fans. ever since, it has been active in inviting jockeys from overseas to take part in their racing. The international JBC races and other racing series invitation races known as the “Ladies Cup” was held for four Based on the model of the BC (Breeders’ Cup) in America consecutive years in the 1980’s, with female jockeys from and created from an initiative by breeders, the first JBC Europe, the USA, Canada and Japan competing with one (Japan Breeding Farms’ Cup) races were held at Ohi another. During the five-year period from 1989 to 1993, Racecourse in 2001. It consists of three races – the JBC NAR conducted the “International Queen Jockey Series,” in Classic, Sprint and Ladies’ Classic. As total prize money, the which Japanese female jockeys rode together with female Classic offers ¥136 million, the highest amount in racing by jockeys invited from the USA, Canada, Britain, France, local governments, while the Sprint offers ¥102 million and Australia and New Zealand, as part of an international the Ladies’ Classic ¥69.7 million, an unprecedented sum for friendly among female jockeys. From 1982 to 1997, Niigata racing by local governments. Racecourse was the host to the “Japan-Korea Challenge Cup” races, in which jockeys from the two nations were invited to Racing by local governments holds several different race in each other’s racecourse. “Derby” races for three-year-olds on the local circuit. The interest in these Derby races were relatively low, partly In 1995, Ohi Racecourse formed a friendly relationship because the prize money is lower compared to that of JRA’s with Santa Anita Park in the USA, inviting jockeys from the Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) and nationwide recognition California circuit to ride in Japan. The friendly jockey series was low. Therefore, in order to raise awareness and interest, lasted for several years. In 2013, Tokyo City Keiba (Ohi the six districts which held these separate Derby races Racecourse) and the Korean Racing Authority initiated the collaborated and adjusted the racing calendar so that the first-ever “Japan-Korea international invitational race,” Derby races are held over a continuous 6-day period at six inviting each organization’s horses to run in Ohi Racecourse different racecourses. Since 2007, this event has been turned and Seoul Racecourse, respectively. The two-race series was into “Series of Derby Week” to raise its profile and NAR has first held at Seoul Racecourse with three Japanese runners. taken measures to expand nationwide off-track sales. Since then, this international exchange races have been held once a year at each racetrack. Also, NAR also conducts a series of races for fillies and mares, named “GRANDAME-JAPAN.” The most In recent years, foreign jockeys issued short-term licenses outstanding fillies/mares are selected from each age group by NAR or JRA have been increasing and they have and they compete over a period of time, vying for the top opportunities to ride in the exchange races between JRA and spot – and incentive money – in their respective groups. NAR racing including the graded dirt races and other races Another series of races in the local circuit is the “Super held at local government racecourses all over Japan. Sprint Series,” which began in 2011. It is a number of sprint races run over a track with only one bend.

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Off-Course Betting Faciliities As of 2016, wagers can be placed at 99 off-course betting Type of Bets facilities (including 17 tracks nott hosting races).

here are ninne standard types of betting available for racing Telephone Betting by local governments: Win, Place, Bracket number Racing by local governments began offering telephone Quinella, Brackket number Exacta, Horse number Quinella, wagering in 1984. Telephone betting systems offered to fans Quinella Place (“Wide”), Exacta, Trio and Trifecta. As of vary according to local racing auauthority but are divided into 2017, three other types of exotic betting, Pick 5, Pick 7 and two types: ARS and Internet betting (cell phones, smart Triple Exacta are available on the Internet. phone or personal computers).

2016 Betting Turnover by Racing by Local Similar to JRA’s figures, local government racing also Governments (total turnover ¥477.222.738.220) relies heavily on off-track saless. In 2001, the ratio of on- track/off-track sales was 50:550, but in 2016, the ratio drastically changed to 10:90. Sales at racecourses are decreasing year by year, but off--track sales are conversely in an increasing trend.

ost of the active NAR licennssed jockeys have completed the jockey course at the NAR Racing Education Center in Nasu, Tochigi Prefecture. Each year, the Center accepts Deduction Rate some 10 students who have passed the examinations, ranging from 15-year-old junior high school graduates to 20- bout the use of proceeds from betting by local years-old adults. The training period lasts twt o years and governments, the deduction rate is set by each type of bet. includes a five-month practicaall training period under the However, in the case of 2016, a ratio for total sales is 73.5 %. guidance of a trainer with whom the candidate will become Accordingly, 24.8% is received by each organizer for affiliated with upon graduation. Upon completion of the two- operating expenses and prize money. 0.4% is shares of the year course at the facility, jockeys make their debut after local government, and 1.2% is disbursed to NAR. The passing the jockey license examiination. remaining 0.1% is invested to the Japan Finance Corporation for Municipal Enterprises (JFCME), which is a Government The 30,000-square meter Center includes a 1,100-meter dirt sponsored corporation that provides low-interest financing to track with four riding paddocks in the infield, an uphill local governments. training track, stable area with a capacity of 160 horses, veterinary clinic, farriery, etc. In 2010, the international NAR House Take Percentages in 2016 (Estimates) quarantine stables were newly built for horses entering and leaving Japan.

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rom the betting perspective, one of the main focuses of NAR’s customer service is to provide a betting channel that caters to a variety of punters’ “life styles” – that is, to hold racing on weekdays and weekend, and from daytime, late afternoon and night time. In addition to preparing a variety in the racing calendar, organizers of local racing cooperate amongst one another by providing betting windows for races held outside of their courses – for example, a racecourse will hold racing during the day and keep the betting windows open at night as an off-track betting facility for races held elsewhere. Needless to say, for punters who are not able to Night racing under illuminations at OOhi Racecourse visit the racecourse, there are a number of betting channels over the internet. In 2012, NAR and JRA developed a new integrated totalizator system, which allows members of JRA’s internet betting system to purchase tickets for local racing.

Each racecourse plans its own events for the visiting fans – ranging from talk shows by television personalities and jockeys to charity events, as well as quiz contests with premium prizes. Also, a local racecourse will sell or give out their own local foods/products, taking a more “community- “Live fanfare” before a race is one oof the attractions at Ohi based” approach to attract racing fans.

Another characteristic of racing by local governments is that it provides individuals and corporations “naming rights” to certain races. The sponsors are invited to the racecourse on raceday, along with various promotions of the race and provided a guest room at the racecourse. Also, a visiting fan can win by lottery a chance to take part in the post-rraace presentation ceremony, providing a special occasion to interact with their favorite jockeys and/or racing personnel.

Some racecourses offer free-of-charge transportation to and Fans gather for a ttalk show at Sonoda Racecourse from the nearest train station. Also, some racecourses will invite fans to watch “test races (barrier trials)” and give them a “behind-the-scenes” tour of a raceday operation, which are rare occasions for the casual racegoer.

Jockeys sign autographs for the enthusiastic fans

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he lengths of racecourses of local governments raannge from 1,000 to 1,600 meters, track width from 16 too 25 meters, and hoomestretches from the fourth turn to the finish line range from 190 to 380 meters. The maximum number of runners range ffrom 10 to 16 horses. The NAR racecourses are comparatively smaller than that of JRA racecourses and bends are comparatively sharper. All NAR racecourses have only dirt tracks, with the exception of Morioka Racecourse which also has a turf track.

OBIHIRO KAWASAKI Ban-ei course Length Width Dirt course Length Width Homestretch 200 m 21 m Left-handed 1,200m 255 m 300 m

MONBETSU KANAZAWA Dirt course Right-handed Dirt course Length Wiidth Homestretch Length 1,376m (inner)/1,600m (outer) Righth -handed 1,200m 20 m 236m Homestretch 218m(inner)/330m(outer) Width 25m KASAMATSU Dirt course Length Width Homestretch MORIOKKA Righth -handed 1,100m 20 m 201 m Left-handed Lenth Width Homestretch Dirt course 1,600m 25m 300m NAGOYA Turf course 1,400m 22m 300m Dirt course Length Width Homestretch Righth -handed 1,100m 23–25m 194 m MIZUSAWWA Dirt course Length Width Homestretch SONODA Right-handed 1,200m 20m 245 m Dirt course Length Width Homestretch Righth -handed 1,051m 20–24m 213 m URAWA Dirt course Length Width Homestretch HIMEJI Left-handed 1,200m 16.5–21.5m 220 m Dirt course Length Width Homestretch Righth -handed 1,200m 20–25m 230 m FUNABASHI Dirt course Length KOCHI Left-handed 1,250m(inner)/1,400m(outer) Dirt course Length Width Homestretch Homestretch 308m Righth -handed 1,100m 22–27m 200 m Width 20m(inner)/25m(outer) SAGAG OHI Dirt course Length Width Homestretch Dirt course Length Righth -handed 1,100m 19.2–24m 200 m Right-handed 1,400m(inner)/1,600m(outer) Homestretch 286m(inner)/386m(outer) Width 25m

25 | Although the number of thoroughbreds has decreased, the hen Western-style horse racing was first introduced to breeding standards - as well as their expectations for the Japan by the foreign residents of Yokohama during the foals - have been getting higher every year. The 1860s, most racehorses were domestic breeds, with some establishment of the Japan Cup in 1981 resulted in the imports from Shanghai and other parts of China. During the breeding industry setting a goal for producing faster and 1870s, a few thoroughbreds were imported from the United stronger horses that could hold their own worldwide. One of States for the first time for use as breeding stock. The the goals of the Japan Cup was to bring forth steady breeding industry in Japan began in earnest in 1907 when, improvement of the domestic-bred horses through the with the assistance of the Mitsubishi Conglomerate, a introduction of superior stallions and broodmares from thoroughbred stallion and 20 broodmares were imported overseas. This program has borne fruit to a point where the from the United Kingdom to stand at Koiwai Farm. With the winners of GI races in some of the world’s leading racing subsequent authorization of horse racing and the regulation nations have been produced in Japan. As a result Japanese- of racing programs and other racing related affairs, horse bred horses are increasingly drawing attention on the global racing in Japan started to take off, and the number of racing stage. domestically bred racehorses increased as the thoroughbred breeding industry developed. Although the breeding industry suffered a near fatal blow during the closing days of World War II, horse racing along with society started on the long road to recovery after the war. As racing activities surpassed Breeding Regions and Number of Farms their pre-war prosperity, the number of foals bred increased to over 10,000, an unequaled number in the history of horse reeding regions are located from the island of Hokkaido racing in Japan. up north to the island of Kyushu in the south. Traditional Since 1995, however, the industry has been in a gradual breeding areas include Tokachi, Hidaka and Iburi in decline. In 1997, the number of thoroughbred foals fell to Hokkaido and Aomori, Iwate, Miyagi, Fukushima, Tochigi, around 8,000, and its number in 2016 was just about 6,900. Chiba, Miyazaki and Kagoshima prefectures throughout the Bloodstock Sales in Japan are conducted by the Japan rest of Japan. Bloodhorse Breeders’ Association (JBBA) in cooperation As of 2016, there were 875 farms with thoroughbred with various local breeders’ associations, and by the Japan broodmares stabled. The Hidaka area of Hokkaido is home Racing Horse Association (JRHA) who conducts the famous to the most at 735. If the Tokachi and Iburi areas are public auction, “JRHA Select Sale.” As the number of included, Hokkaido’s total comes to 797, which accounts for thoroughbreds born decreases, horses are sold at a higher some 90% of the nationwide total. price at the sales, and the number of unsold racehorses has Breeding is expanding in Hokkaido, which has a cool, dry gradually begun to decrease. climate and plenty of space, while the industry has been shrinking in areas near tracks and in warm, humid Kyushu. The emphasis in these areas has turned to training.

Stallions

uring 2016, there were 227 thoroughbred stallions registered at stud in Japan. 59 of these were foreign-bred and 168 Japanese-bred. Approximately 93% of these stallions are standing in the main Hokkaido breeding region. The great racehorse and stallion (USA), who died in August 2002, was Japan’s leading sire for 13

26 | HORSE RACING IN JAPAN 2017 0consecutive years from 1995 to 2007. His influence as a numbers began to gradually decrease from that point up until stallion has been passed on to his foals. Of domestic stallions, 2014, when the actual number of broodmares reached 9,253, 30 of those sired by Sunday Silence were used for covering and slightly increased since then to 9,483 in 2016. 1,172 mares in 2016. This number increases to 84 (and 4,170 mares) when including stallions with a Sunday Silence Foals bloodline in the second generation pedigree, which accounts for 38.7% of all mares covered in 2016. The top five sires, in apan bred fewer than 1,000 thoroughbreds a year through terms of the number of mares covered, in 2016 were the 1940s and 50s. However, as the economy grew rapidly Rulership (JPN) with 280, (JPN) 269, and horse racing developed, the number rose steadily to (JPN) 267, (JPN) 244 and (JPN) 243. reach 10,188 foals during 1992. Deep Impact is a foal and Orfevre is a grandson of Sunday Silence. Rulership and Lord Kanaloa are sired by King An annual level in the upper 8,000s for foal crop had been Kamehameha (by ). maintained since 1997, but a declining trend began in 2003 and, as a result, 6,902 thoroughbred foals were registered in Broodmares 2016. This is approximately the same number of foals as that of the late 1970s. This is a result of shifting from quantity to f we look at the number of broodmares in Japan, the figures quality, as well as the steep decline in the demand for reached a peak of about 15,287 in 1991. These figures fell to thoroughbreds caused by the closure of a number of Racing 12,000 and remained around that level until 2003. The by Local Governments racecourses.

Deep Impact ©J.Fukuda ©M.Ueda

South Vigorous ©Horse Bank ©M.Ueda

27 |

apan has many festivals that feature horses. Horse racing Groups of five or six riders are divided into red and white organizations carefully preserve these forms of culture teams and try to put balls called related to horses and undertake assistance in various forms to “agedama,” which are marked ensure that this heritage continues. A few examples follow with the Chinese character for below. ten, into the goal. This is a two- team, horseback contest in Yabusame Ceremony which the red team attempts to (Japanese on Horseback) scoop up red balls using nets mounted on poles and put them through the goal’s round opening while the white team does his Shinto ceremony is very gallant with a tradition of the same with white balls. A bell is rung to announce goals over 800 years. Wearing hunting uniforms of the made by the white team. Inversely, a drum is beat when goals era, archers mount horses and, galloping swiftly are made by the red team. The Imperial Household Agency, on horseback, release from their bows to hit three Yamagata Prefecture’s Horetsu Shrine, and Hachinohe, targets in a row. When this is achieved, they receive loud Aomori Prefecture, still carry on this tradition today. applause from the many attending fans. Yabusame is well known in Horohiki foreign countries, as many foreign tourists can be seen among the audience. This t is said that Heian-era warriors used pennants on the Shinto ceremony is held battlefield as protection against arrows. The Imperial twice a year on the spring equinox and autumn equinox to Household Agency’s equestrian division carries on this appease the spirits of their ancestors. traditional cultural event. Horohiki is performed by two riders mounted on Yamato Soma Nomaoi era saddles, each with a 10-meter-long pennant secured to (Soma Wild-Horse Roundup) his/her back. The horses’ gait quickens ating back over a millennium, the Soma wild horse from a walk to a trot and roundup originated as a form of military training in which then to a gallop. Their legs horses were used as a new military force. They were released move in unison (i.e., the in a pasture and were same legs moving at the rounded-up by soldiers. The same time). The two riders release the long pennants a little, horses were then presented until they are fully deployed. A green and white pennant at a shrine as part of the symbolizes the spring season, while a red and white pennant festival rites. Succeeding ©HADA symbolizes the fall. generations of Soma clan leaders continued this rite dating from 1323 to the Meiji Thoroughbred life after retirement Restoration. Held every July, the Soma Nomaoi festival was designated n 1973, the Japan Bloodhorse Breeders’ Association an important national intangible folk culture treasure in 1978. (JBBA) established a welfare program that enables champion horses to live out the final years of their lives in Dakyu (Horseback Lacrosse) ease after completing stud/broodmare service following the completion of an active career. The Bloodhorse Training egun by the Mizuno lords of the ancient Yamagata fief, Center also started a subsidy program from 1996 to place this richly traditional horseback lacrosse is part of the famous retired horses at privately owned farms for public Horetsu Shrine’s annual festival events in Yamagata viewing and Japan Association for International Racing and Prefecture. Stud Book (JAIRS) took over the duty from 2013.

28 | HORSE RACING IN JAPAN 2017

Asian Racing Conference Asian Stud Book Committee (ASBC)

apan’s advocacy led to the inauguration of the Asian n 1993, Japan proposed to India the establishment of the Racing Conference (ARC), whose objectives are the Asian Stud Book Conference, the current Asian Stud promotion of horse racing, goodwill and mutual Book Committee (ASBC). The first ASBC was then held understanding among Asian nations based on exchanges jointly by Japan and India on the day preceding the 1995 among members. Asian Racing Conference (ARC), which was held in India. The first conference took place in Japan in May 1960. The The following guidelines were established under a new 32nd conference was also held in Tokyo in November 2008. system and co-chaired by India and Japan. There are now 21 full member countries, one associate member country and three affiliate member countries ・Subsequent ASBCs will be held on the day immediately belonging to the primary racing association in Asia. before any ARC. At the 28th conference in Bangkok in 2001, it was decided ・Japan assumes the responsibilities of ASBC . to change the name of the Asian Racing Conference to the ・India and Japan are co-chairmen of ASBC. Asian Racing Federation (abbreviated as ARF) with ARC designating the conferences only. The 9th ASBC meeting was held in Tokyo in 2008 and the Dr. Koji Sato, JRA Presidential Counselor for Foreign 10th meeting was held in Sydney in 2010. Only the Indian Affairs of that time, became the Chairman of ARF in 2009. and Japanese stud books were internationally approved by In 2014, Mr. Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, Hong Kong the International Stud Book Committee (ISBC) from among Jockey Club CEO was elected as the Chairman to replace Dr. the participating countries at the time of the first ASBC Sato, with Australiana and Japan as the co-vice chairman. meeting in 1995. Today, there are 13 Asian countries with Hong Kong is also concurrently undertaking the stud books that have been approved by ISBC. responsibilities of secretariat. The 13th ASBC was held in January 2016 in Mumbai and The Executive Council consists of nominees from Japan, the 14th ASBC is scheduled for May 2018 in Korea. Hong Kong, Australia, India and New Zealand, and also from Singapore, South Africa and the United Arab Emirates on a provisional basis. The Executive Council meets approximately four times a year. The 36th ARC was held in January 2016 in Mumbai, India, and the 37th ARC is scheduled to be held in May 2018 in Seoul, Korea.

29 |

International Conference of Racing International Thoroughbred Analysts and Veterinarians (ICRAV) Breeders’ Federation (ITBF)

he Conference of Racing Analysts and Veterinarians he ITBF, formerly known as “International Breeders’ (ICRAV) is an advisory organization that confers on Meeting (IBM)”, is the only international conference in issues of racehorse dope testing and veterinary treatment. which the world's leading thoroughbred breeding nations They also propose technical measures to the International participate. It is held once every one or two years. The Federation of Horse racing Authorities (IFHA). meeting provides a common venue for the exchange of ICRAV is made up of a panel of experts that makes views between the breeding industries of the world and for proposals on issues related to horse racing, from such fields discussions covering the various aspects of thoroughbred as body analysis, veterinary treatment and other measures, to breeding and distribution. the Advisory Council on Prohibited Substances, a sub- The ITBF has its historical origins in bilateral meetings that organization of the IFHA executive committee. were held periodically between Irish and British breeders' To date, ICRAV has discussed definitions of prohibited associations in the 1950s and 1960s. France joined in 1968 substances, the establishment of thresholds for prohibited and the U.S. in 1978. The organization now comprises 16 substances, doping tests for jockeys and other related matters full-member nations, including Argentina, Australia, Brazil, and submitted recommendations to IFHA on these topics. Canada, Chile, France, Germany, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, The 16th meeting was held in Tokyo in 2006. The 21st New Zealand, South Africa, South Korea, the U.K. and the meeting was held in October 2016 in Uruguay, and the 22nd U.S. The meeting in 2006 was held in Tokyo, with the most meeting is scheduled for March 2018 in UAE. recent conference in Cape Town, South Africa in January 2017.

International Federation of Horse racing Authorities (IFHA)

apan has attended meetings of the International Federation of Horse racing Authorities’ global racing conference annually since 1973. This international conference is held once a year in Paris in conjunction with the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. Japan has since been named to the executive council of the federation’s leadership committee, as a member representing Asia. As the standard of horse racing in Japan has risen, the country’s responsibilities in the worldwide racing society have become heavier.

30 | HORSE RACING IN JAPAN 2017 References

1862 Foreign residents of Yokohama hold the first 1946 Horseracing in Tokyo and Kyoto is re-started. The Western-style horse races in Japan regional Horse Racing Law is enacted. The organization of races is restricted to the Federation of Horse Associations 1882 First Western-style races are held by Japanese and its national body, the Japan Equine Society, which is organizers. disbanded soon afterwards.

1888 Horse race betting tickets are sold for the first time. 1948 The Japan Racing Society is dissolved, and a new Horse Racing Law is enacted. The government takes over 1895 14 horses are imported from Australia. the assets of the former Japan Racing Society and administers horse racing under a national structure. However, 1905 Implicit government approval is given for horse Local government bodies, such as prefectures and racing and betting to encourage horse breeding. designated municipalities, are permitted to organize local racing. 1906 The Tokyo Racing Society Inc. holds the first modern race meeting at Ikegami Racecourse. Corruption flourishes 1954 JRA is organized to operate National Racing by the as a result of the unchecked proliferation of similar enactment of the Japan Racing Association Law. organizations and racecourses. 1956 The first Arima Kinen Grand Prix is held. 1908 The sale of betting tickets for horse races is prohibited by the enactment of a new penal code that 1958 Hakuchikara races in the U.S.A., becoming the first institutes sweeping bans on various forms of gambling. Japanese horse to compete abroad. However, in a move to ensure the viability of horse racing and to improve breeding stocks, the government introduces a 1959 Hakuchikara wins the Washington Birthday series of subsidies for racing. Handicap Stakes.

1910 Local horse and cattle breeding associations (later 1960 The first Asian Racing Conference is held in Tokyo. stockbreeders’ associations) gain permission to conduct regional racing under a revamped regulatory system. Betting, 1962 The NAR is established to implement a nationally however, remains prohibited. coordinated framework for registration and licensing for Racing by Local Governments. 1923 The Horse Racing Law is enacted, giving rise to the establishment of 11 horse racing clubs that are permitted to 1971 Import restrictions on racehorses are eased. organize races and sell betting tickets. Regional racing, however, does not come under the jurisdiction of the Horse 1973 The first JRA representative attends the International Racing Law. Conference of Racing Authorities in Paris.

1927 Regional racing regulations are enacted, under which 1974 JRA joins the International Agreement on Breeding stock breeders’ associations and national federations are and Racing. permitted to hold horse races, sell admission tickets with a bonus betting ticket and award prizes, rather than cash, to the 1976 Telephone betting is introduced. winning ticket holders. 1979 Japan becomes Asia’s representative member on the 1932 The first Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) is held. first International Stud Book Committee.

1936 The Japan Racing Society, a semi-governmental 1981 The first Japan Cup is held. public enterprise, is established under amendments to the Horse Racing Law. Racing begins to flourish under 1987 The World Super Jockeys Series is launched. government supervision. 1988 The JRA awards are established. 1939 The Law to Conserve Military Equine Resources is enacted. Racing of military parade horses is permitted, as is 1990 The NAR Grand Prix awards are established. the sale of winning horse tickets, the equivalent of pari- mutuel tickets. 1992 The first Young Jockeys World Championship is held. JRA opens its first overseas representative office in London. 1941 St. Lite is the first Triple Crown winner. 1994 Lisa Cropp of New Zealand becomes the first 1943 Horse racing is suspended due to intensifying overseas jockey to receive a short-term riding license in hostilities in World War II. Japan.

1945 World War II ends.

31 | References

1995 The first Asian Stud Book Conference, organized by 2006 Heart’s Cry wins the (GI). India and Japan, is held in Hyderabad, India; Japan is Cosmo Bulk wins the Singapore Airlines International Cup selected as the permanent secretariat country. (G1), the first overseas win for an NAR registered racehorse. Japan-trained Delta Blues and Pop Rock finish one-two in 1996 JRA’s first female jockeys begin their riding careers. the Melbourne Cup (G1). The International Cataloguing Standards Committee 1997 The number of JRA Personal Access Terminal (PAT) promotes Japan to a Part 1 nation in 2007. subscribers surpasses 500,000. A joint JRA/local graded dirt race system is introduced. 2007 Admire Moon wins the Dubai Duty Free (G1). Shadow Gate and Cosmo Bulk finish one-two in the SAIC. 1998 Japanese horses win G1 races in France; Seeking the Pearl claims the Prix de Gheest (G1), and Taiki 2008 The 32nd ARC is held in Tokyo. Shuttle triumphs in the Prix Jacques le Marois (G1). 2009 Dr. Koji Sato, JRA Presidential Counselor for 1999 wins the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud Foreign Affairs, becomes the Chairman of the Asian Racing (GI) and Agnes World wins the Prix de l’Abbaye de Federation (ARF). Longchamp (GI). 2010 Apapane becomes the third filly in history to capture 2000 Agnes World becomes the first Japan-trained horse to the Filly’s Triple Crown. win a UK GI race, the Darley . T. M. Opera O maintains an undefeated record during the 2011 wins the Dubai World Cup (G1). year with five GI wins. Orfevre becomes the seventh colt in history to capture the Triple Crown. 2001 Two foreign-bred horses run in the Japanese Derby for the first time. 2012 becomes the fourth filly in history to , Eishin Preston and Agnes Digital have respective capture Filly Triple Crown. GI victories in the , and Rulership wins the HK’s QEII Cup. Lord Kanaloa wins the . Hong Kong Sprint (G1).

2002 Eishin Preston wins HK’s Audemars Piguet Queen 2013 Lord Kanaloa wins the HK Sprint for the second Elizabeth II Cup (G1). consecutive year. Sire Sunday Silence (16) dies of debilitation leading to heart failure at Shadai Stallion Station. 2014 and Gentildonna win the Dubai Duty New Zealand jockey Rochelle Lockett wins the Nakayama Free and Dubai Sheema Classic, respectively. Just A Way, Daishogai, the first JRA graded race victory in Japan by a which wins the Duty Free by 6 1/4 lengths, becomes the first woman. ever Japan-based horse to claim the sole No. 1 position in the Longine's World's Best Racehorse Rankings. 2003 Eishin Preston wins HK’s QE II Cup for the second Hana's Goal wins All Aged Stakes (G1). Admire Rakti score consecutive year. a win in the Caulfield Cup (G1). Teamed with , French jockey Olivier Peslier becomes the first foreign jockey to win three GI races in a 2015 Two world-class riders, Italian Mirco Demuro and row (the Tenno Sho, Japan Cup and Arima Kinen). Frenchman Christophe Lemaire are granted full-term jockey Still in Love achieves the second Filly Triple Crown for the licenses by JRA. first time in 17 years. Real Impact wins the George Ryder Stakes (G1). Esmeraldina wins Korea's Ttukseom Cup and becomes the 2004 All 20 members of the Asian Racing Federation sign first JRA-trained horse to win a race in Korea. the Good Neighbour Policy to battle against illegal Internet Maurice and capture the HK Mile and Cup betting on horse racing. On a worldwide scale, the respectively. International Federation of Horseracing Authorities’ General Assembly unanimously approves the addition of the 2016 Jockey celebrates his 4000th career win Wagering Article (Article 28) into the International on JRA horse. Agreement of Breeding and Racing and changed the name JRA commences its first simulcasting for overseas races. of the agreement to the International Agreement of Breeding, Japanese horses win top races in France; A Shin Hikari Racing and Wagering. claims the Prix d'Ispahan (G1), and triumphs in the Prix Niel (G2). 2005 Her Excellency, Mary McAleese, the President of Maurice wins the HK Champions Mile (G1) in April and the Ireland visits Nakayama Racecourse and presents the Irish HK Cup in December. also wins HK Vase. President’s Trophy. Cesario captures the American Oaks (G1) and becomes the first horse to win both the American and Japanese Oaks. Deep Impact becomes the sixth colt in history to win the Triple Crown.

Their Imperial Highnesses, The Emperor and Empress visit Tokyo Racecourse.

32 | HORSE RACING IN JAPAN 2017 References

JRA Racing Breeder JRA Sale/Purchase of racehorses ・Horse racing operation Registration

・Pari-mutuel betting Owners

system operation Training contracts Supervsion/ ・Management of Guidance Licensing rececourses and other Trainers facilities Employment Riding contracts Licensing Jockeys

Employment

Approval Assistant Trainers Ministry of Agriculrture,

Forestry and Fisheries Approval Grooms

Racing by Local Governments Breeder

Sale/Purchase of racehorses

Registration Owners NAR* Supervsion/ Guidance Training contracts Licensing Trainers

Employment Local Government Riding contracts

Licensing Bodies Jockeys ・Horse racing operation

・Pari-mutuel betting Specialist Advisors Employment system operation Licensing Assistant ・Management of Trainers rececourses and other

facilities Approval Grooms *The National Association of Racing

33 | References

Birth Sales

Breeding Stable

Racing Retirement

34 | HORSE RACING IN JAPAN 2017 References

Birth Racing Retirement Number of Births 6,903 Horse Racing Community Retired from Racing Thoroughbred: 6,902 Figures (as of December 31, 2016)

Anglo-Arab: 1 JRA JRA Breeders (as of December 31, 2016) Owners: 2,382 Breeding: 579 1,036 [Private: 2,014] [Stallions: 24] [Mares: 555] Hokkaido: 827 (80%) [Corporate: 316] To NAR: 3,028 Other regions: 209 (20%) [Syndicate: 52] Died: 148 Trainers: 197 Riding horses: 1,119 Assistant trainers: 1,697 Others: 98 Grooms: 713 Total: 4,972 Jockeys: 133

NAR NAR Owners: 4,530 Breeding: 492 Trainers: 430 [Stallions: 30] [Mares: 462] Assistant trainers: 44 To JRA: 410 Grooms: 1,961 Sales Died: 718 Jockeys: 283 Form of Transaction Riding horses: 1,569 JRA (estimates for thoroughbreds) Others: 1,586 Registered horses: 7,842 Private sales: 2,052 Total: 4,775 Horses in stables (monthly average): 3,671 Not sold: 341 Number of stalls: 4,004 Sold in foal: 278 [Miho Training Center: 1,992] Public sales: 1,141 [Ritto Training Center: 2,012] JRA-purchased horses: 73 Race days: 288 Membership corporations: 718 Number of races: 3,454 Other: 842 [2yo: 621] Total: 5,445 [3yo and up: 2,705] Breeding [Jump: 128] Broodmares (as of 2016) Actual number of runners: 11,175 (thoroughbred): 9,483 Total number of runners: 49,910 Stallions (as of 2016) Average races run per horse: 4.5 (thoroughbred): 227 Average runners per race: 14.4 Stable [Domestic: 168] NAR Racehorse Registration [Imported: 59] Registered horses: 10,726 JRA Thoroughbred: 9,996 Thoroughbred: 5,445 Ban-ei: 730 [356 from NAR] Race days: 1,286 NAR Number of races: 14,531 Thoroughbred: 4,855 Thoroughbred (flat race): 12,892 [2,929 from JRA] Ban-ei: 1,639

Actual number of runners: 12,432

Total number of runners: 140,916

Average races run per horse: 10.8

Average runners per race: 9.7

35 | References

TOKACHI

■ Obihiro CLOSE-UP OF KANSAI REGION ■ Sapporo IBURI Monbetsu ■ JRA Hidaka Training and Research Center ■ Hakodate HIDAKA

JRA Ritto Training Center ■ Morioka ■ Mizusawa Hanshin ■ ■ Kyoto ■ Sonoda

■ Niigata ■ Fukushima NAR Jockey Training Institute ■ Kanazawa JRA Equine Research Institute – Sports Science Research Center

■ Kasamatsu ■ Nagoya Himeji ■ ■ Chukyo CLOSE-UP OF KANTO REGION

■ Kokura ■ Kochi Saga ■

JRA Miyazaki Yearling Training Farm JRA Miho KAGOSHIMA Training Center Nakayama MIYAZAKI

JRA Equestrian Park JRA Horse Racing ■ Urawa ■ School ■ Funabashi Tokyo ■ Ohi ■ JRA Main Office Kawasaki ■ NAR Office

■ Major breeding region ■ JRA racecourses ■ Local government racecourses

36 | HORSE RACING IN JAPAN 2017 References

RACES

Number of JRA Races Unit: Races Races Year Racing days Flat Jump Total 2007 288 3,321 132 3,453 2008 288 3,320 132 3,452 2009 288 3,319 134 3,453 2010 288 3,320 134 3,454 2011 288 3,320 122 3,454 2012 288 3,321 133 3,454 2013 288 3,324 130 3,454 2014 288 3,326 125 3,451 2015 288 3,326 128 3,454 2016 288 3,326 128 3,454

Number of NAR Races Unit: Races Races Year Racing days Thoroughbred Anglo-Arab Ban-ei Total 2007 1,481 13,572 583 1,882 16,037 2008 1,472 14,058 234 1,741 16,033 2009 1,464 14,156 93 1,798 16,047 2010 1,466 14,243 0 1,812 16,055 2011 1,398 14,156 0 1,798 16,047 2012 1,374 13,396 0 1,842 15,238 2013 1,300 12,668 0 1,685 14,353 2014 1,287 12,486 0 1,685 14,171 2015 1,287 12,723 0 1,672 14,395 2016 1,286 12,892 0 1,639 14,531

37 | References

JRA Racing: Actual and Overall Runners

Unit: Races Thoroughbred Flat Thoroughbred Jump Year Actual Overall Actual Overall 2007 10,270 47,022 564(320) 1,766 2008 10,740 48,456 581(323) 1,759 2009 10,742 48,548 578(338) 1,769 2010 10,821 48,141 586(315) 1,754 2011 10,823 47,389 562(302) 1,578 2012 10,837 48,097 552 (307) 1,682 2013 10,834 48,293 533 (292) 1,608 2014 10,803 48,560 507 (292) 1,584 2015 10,891 48,240 509 (274) 1,582 2016 10,939 48,331 505 (269) 1,579 Note: Runners reflected in parenthesis in the figures for jump races are for runners that have also run in flat races.

NAR Racing: Actual and Overall Runners Unit: Races Thoroughbred Anglo-Arab Ban-ei Year Actual Overall Actual Overall Actual Overall 2007 13,302 130,447 363 5,145 980 17,825 2008 13,235 134,598 177 2,639 928 16,550 2009 13,191 139,243 86 1,387 853 17,108 2010 13,157 138,294 45 706 774 17,210 2011 12,949 132,613 18 264 734 17,071 2012 12,670 133,345 6 78 778 16,362 2013 12,452 129,193 1 5 783 14,560 2014 12,022 125,595 0 0 688 14,587 2015 11,761 125,231 0 0 671 14,648 2016 11,731 126,817 0 0 701 14,099

38 | HORSE RACING IN JAPAN 2017 References

JRA Racing: Statistics of Foreign-Bred Thoroughbreds

Number of JRA Registered thoroughbreds Number of thoroughbred Races Year Total Foreign bred % Total Mixed Races % 2007 7,999 538 6.73% 3,453(131) 1,969(125) 57.0(95.4)% 2008 7,969 480 6.02% 3,452(131) 1,978(126) 57.3(96.2)% 2009 8,028 401 5.00% 3,453(132) 1,980(127) 57.3(96.2)% 2010 7,989 336 4.21% 3,454(133) 1,980(133) 57.3(100.0)% 2011 7,933 282 3.55% 3,453(134) 1,980(134) 57.3(100.0)% 2012 7,925 299 3.77% 3,454(134) 1,980(134) 57.3(100.0)% 2013 7,869 252 3.20% 3,454(134) 1,980(134) 57.3(100.0)% 2014 7,765 248 3.19% 3,451(136) 1,977(136) 57.3(100.0)% 2015 7,789 274 3.52% 3,454(136) 1,980(136) 57.3(100.0)% 2016 8,262 267 3.23% 3,454(138) 1,980(136) 57.3(100.0)% Note: 1. Mixed races are open to foreign thoroughbreds that have not been raced abroad. 2. Numbers in parentheses refer to the number of graded races.

JRA Racing : Prize Money per Race and Runner in 2016

2 y.o. Flat 3 y.o. and up Flat Jump Total Number of Races A 621 2,705 128 3,454 Number of actual runners B 3,115 7,824 505 (269) 11,175 Number of overall runners C 8,588 39,743 1,579 49,910 Added money (¥) 8,381,640,000 57,595,900,000 2,835,350,000 68,812,890,000 Total prize money (¥) D 13,967,394,000 81,515,271,750 3,744,663,000 99,227,328,750 Prize money per race (¥) D/A 22,491,778 30,135,036 29,255,180 28,728,236 Prize money per runner (¥) D/B 4,483,915 10,418,619 7,415,174 8,879,403 Prize money per runner (¥) D/C 1,626,385 2,051,060 2,371,541 1,988,125 Notes: 1. "y.o." stands for "year-old" 2. Total prize money includes added and stakes money, and additional allowances. 3. Runners reflected in parenthesis in the figures for jump races are for runners that have also run in flat races.

JRA and NAR Prize Money

Unit: ¥ million JRA NAR Year "Thoroughbred Thoroughbred Anglo-Arab Ban-ei Total Added Money" 2007 68,117.2 16,000.8 211.7 404.8 16,617.2 2008 68,490.4 16,118.2 107.4 326.3 16,552.0 2009 68,327.2 16,065.9 35.6 299.3 16.400.8 2010 68,095.1 15,979.1 0 282.0 16,261.1 2011 67,265.7 14,220.7 0 236.1 14.456.8 2012 64,925.4 14,617.5 0 208.3 14,825.9 2013 65,478.7 14,453.3 0 182.1 14,635.4 2014 66,460.0 14,435.9 0 182.4 14,618.4 2015 67,685.4 14,706.0 0 231.0 14,937.1 2016 68,812.8 16,056.2 0 285.6 16,341.9

39 | References

BETTING

JRA Racing : Total Betting Turnover and Attendance

Unit: ¥ million "off-course "Racecourse Year Total on-course betting betting(including Ratio (on:off) Attendance" telephonebetting)" 2007 2,759,138.00 140,654.20 2,618,483.80 5:95 7,532,111 2008 2,750,200.90 132,326.40 2,617,874.50 5:95 7,389,749 2009 2,590,073.50 122,141.20 2,467,932.30 5:95 7,316,360 2010 2,427,565.59 109,174.20 2,318,391.30 4:96 6,739,580 2011 2,293,578.05 96,566.30 2,197,011.70 4:96 6,151,105 2012 2,394,308.85 96,592.14 2,297,716.70 4:96 6,190,296 2013 2,404,933.51 94,373.23 2,310,560.27 3.9:96.1 6,092,403 2014 2,493,627.72 92,261.53 2,401,366.19 3.7:96.3 6,142,471 2015 2,583,391.86 91,162.17 2,492,229.69 3.5:96.5 6,317,073 2016 2,670,880.26 88,000.85 2,582,879.40 3.3:96.7 6,300,662

(¥billions) (millions)

NAR Total Betting Turnover and Attendance

(¥billions) (millions)

Racing days, Turnover and Attendance by Types of Racing 2016

Type of racing Racing days Turnover Share (%) Attendance JRA 288 2,670,880,261,600 54.1% 6,300,662 NAR 1,286 477,222,783,220 9.7% 3,202,274 Bicycle Racing 2,170 633,382,740,600 12.8% 3,095,362 Motorcycle Racing 443 66,237,084,200 1.3% 1,564,316 Motorboat Racing 4,530 1,087,534,116,500 22.0% 8,684,163 Grand Total 8,717 4,935,256,986,120 100.00% 22,846,777 Notes: 1. Total comprises the period from January 1 to December 31 for all types of racing. 2. Attendance figures for motorboat racing includes patrons utilizing off-course and telephone betting facilities.

40 | HORSE RACING IN JAPAN 2017 References

Numbers of Thoroughbred Stallions, Mares Covered and Foals

Unit: Head Year Stallions Thoroughbred mares covered Thoroughbred Foals 2007 273 10,222 7,523 2008 271 10,236 7,370 2009 265 9,859 7,474 2010 256 9,754 7,120 2011 243 9,379 7,076 2012 230 9,334 6,828 2013 223 9,301 6,836 2014 223 9,253 6,888 2015 218 9,371 6,846 2016 227 9,483 6,902

Imports of Foreign-Bred Thoroughbred

Unit: Head Broodmares Broodmares Broodmares Racehorses Year Total Stallions C and H F and M Total Pregnant Not Pregnant Total 2007 292 7 103 71 32 182 125 57 2008 309 7 135 113 22 167 102 65 2009 211 1 100 71 29 110 70 40 2010 248 6 112 71 41 130 81 49 2011 237 2 81 38 43 154 93 61 2012 212 5 76 39 37 131 84 47 2013 206 5 95 40 55 106 70 36 2014 243 4 111 89 22 128 79 49 2015 239 3 102 34 68 134 78 56 2016 247 2 98 35 63 147 79 68

41 | References

Imported Thoroughbred Stallions by Number and Origin

Unit: Head Year Total Great Britain Ireland France United States Other 2007 7 - 1 - 5 1 2008 7 3 - - 4 - 2009 1 - - 1 - - 2010 6 - 1 - 3 2 2011 2 1 - - 1 - 2012 5 - 1 1 3 - 2013 5 - 2 - 3 - 2014 4 1 - - 3 - 2015 3 - 1 - 2 - 2016 2 - - - 2 -

Thoroughbred Yearling Sales

Unit: ¥ thousand Year Lots Number of sold Total amount Highest Lowest Average 2007 2,345 974 8,022,746 262,500 105 8,237 2008 2,391 861 6,109,520 257,250 525 7,096 2009 2,347 1,035 6,907,005 152,250 525 6,673 2010 2,568 1,234 8,027,229 69,300 210 6,505 2011 2,685 1,352 9,912,693 378,000 315 7,332 2012 2,537 1,363 10,843,528 262,500 315 7,331 2013 2,370 1,401 11,951,940 189,000 315 8,531 2014 2,395 1,526 12,743,503 280,800 216 8,350 2015 2,439 1,660 15,110,182 253,800 216 9,102 2016 2,472 1,706 17,065,404 280,800 324 10,003

(¥thousand)

42 | HORSE RACING IN JAPAN 2017 References

Leading Sires by Money Earned (2016)

Year of Sire Dam Runners Winners Wins Earnings(￥) birth 1 Deep Impact (JPN) 2002 Sunday Silence Wind In Her Hair 476 192 313 7,493,078,000 2 King Kamehameha (JPN) 2001 Kingmambo Manfath 525 237 413 4,584,209,000 3 (JPN) 2001 Sunday Silence Scarlet Bouquet 444 203 339 2,923,256,000 4 Heart's Cry (JPN) 2001 Sunday Silence Irish Dance 399 162 292 2,742,313,500 5 Stay Gold (JPN) 1994 Sunday Silence Golden Sash 446 197 364 2,703,032,500 6 Kurofune (USA) 1998 French Deputy Blue Avenue 405 194 353 2,126,375,000 7 Gold Allure (JPN) 1999 Sunday Silence Nikiya 383 180 332 2,030,252,000 8 (JPN) 1998 Sunday Silence Subtle Change 343 150 254 2,020,724,500 9 (JPN) 2000 Sunday Silence Pointed Path 329 141 244 1,796,659,500 10 South Vigorous (USA) 1996 End Sweep Darkest Star 388 224 455 1,692,327,500 11 Zenno Rob Roy (JPN) 2000 Sunday Silence Roamin Rachel 338 154 261 1,670,435,500 12 Black Tide (JPN) 2001 Sunday Silence Wind In Her Hair 244 103 190 1,602,699,000 13 Harbinger (GB) 2006 Dansili Penang Pearl 290 102 151 1,594,124,500 14 Symboli Kris S (USA) 1999 Kris S Tee Kay 393 158 279 1,380,762,000 15 Admire Moon(JPN) 2003 End Sweep My Katies 263 123 230 1,323,857,500 16 Kinshasa no Kiseki (AUS) 2003 Keltshaan 236 109 197 1,273,415,500 17 Jungle Pocket (JPN) 1998 Dance Charmer 267 116 228 1,151,699,000 18 Empire Maker(USA) 2000 Unbridled Toussaud 316 152 309 1,141,815,500 19 Pyro (USA) 2005 Pulpit Wild Vision 224 131 248 1,065,198,000 20 Meisho Bowler (JPN) 2001 Taiki Shuttle Nice Raise 296 151 296 1,011,370,500

Leading Sires of 2-y-os (Leading Juvenile Sires by Money Earned in 2016)

Year of Stallion Sire Dam Runners Winners Wins Earning(￥) birth 1 Deep Impact (JPN) 2002 Sunday Silence Wind In Her Hair 83 30 35 501,589,000 2 Daiwa Major (JPN) 2001 Sunday Silence Scarlet Bouquet 90 30 32 458,120,000 3 Heart's Cry (JPN) 2001 Sunday Silence Irish Dance 100 21 29 366,180,000 4 Harbinger (GB) 2006 Dansili Penang Pearl 74 25 28 274,128,000 5 South Vigorous (USA) 1996 End Sweep Darkest Star 88 43 64 272,544,000 6 Rulership (JPN) 2007 King Kamehameha Air Groove 73 19 21 240,637,000 7 Kurofune (USA) 1998 French Deputy Blue Avenue 78 17 22 239,111,000 8 Stay Gold (JPN) 1994 Sunday Silence Golden Sash 88 15 15 235,730,000 9 King Kamehameha (JPN) 2001 Kingmambo Manfath 36 12 14 226,481,000 10 Pyro (USA) 2005 Pulpit Wild Vision 75 42 59 215,674,000

Leading Broodmare Sires by Money Earned in 2016

Year of Stallion Sire Dam Runners Winners Wins Earnings birth 1 Sunday Silence (USA) 1986 Wishing Well 1,232 508 945 7,188,561,000 2 French Deputy(USA) 1992 Deputy Minister Mitterand 417 179 320 2,707,018,000 3 Brian's Time (USA) 1985 Kelley's Day 547 233 427 2,317,979,000 4 Fuji Kiseki (JPN) 1992 Sunday Silence Millracer 547 233 456 2,034,175,000 5 Sakura Bakushin O(JPN) 1989 Sakura Yutaka O Sakura Hagoromo 317 138 248 1,766,729,500 6 Agnes Tachyon(JPN) 1998 Sunday Silence Agnes Flora 502 199 379 1,727,003,500 7 Dance in the Dark (JPN) 1993 Sunday Silence Dancing Key 518 215 395 1,664,317,500 8 Kurofune (USA) 1998 French Deputy Blue Avenue 328 150 271 1,514,505,000 9 Storm Cat(USA) 1983 Terlingua 142 64 118 1,353,184,000 10 (JPN) 1995 Sunday Silence Wishing Well 362 262 148 1,339,015,500

43 | References

Main Achievements of Japan Trained Horses Abroad (GI Races)

Date of Birth Name (M/D/Y) Sire Dam Result Seeking the Pearl(USA) 4/16/94 Seeking the Gold (USA) Page Proof (USA) Prix Maurice de Gheest (GI, France) Win 1998 Taiki Shuttle (USA) 3/23/94 Devil’s Bag (USA) Welsh Muffin (GB) Prix Jacques le Marois (GI, France) Win Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud (GI, France) Win El Condor Pasa (USA) 3/17/95 Kingmambo (USA) Saddlers Gal (IRE) Prix d'Ispahan (GI, France) Second 1999 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (GI, France) Second Agnes World (USA) 4/28/95 (USA) Mysteries (USA) Prix de l’Abbaye de Longchamp (GI, France) Win 2000 Agnes World (USA) 4/28/95 Danzig (USA) Mysteries (USA) July Cup (GI, GB) Win Stay Gold 3/24/94 Sunday Silence (USA) Golden Sash Hong Kong Vase (GI, HK) Win 2001 Eishin Preston (USA) 4/9/97 Green Dancer (USA) Warranty Applied (USA) Hong Kong Mile (GI, HK) Win Agnes Digital (USA) 5/15/97 Crafty Prospector (USA) Chancey Squaw (USA) Hong Kong Cup (GI, HK) Win Eishin Preston (USA) 4/9/97 Green Dancer (USA) Warranty Applied (USA) Queen Elizabeth II Cup (GI, HK) Win 2002 Queen Elizabeth II Cup (GI, HK) Second Agnes Digital (USA) 5/15/97 Crafty Prospector (USA) Chancey Squaw (USA) One-Two finish for Japan-trained horses 2003 Eishin Preston (USA) 4/9/97 Green Dancer (USA) Warranty Applied (USA) Queen Elizabeth II Cup (GI, HK) Win Cesario 3/31/02 Special Week Kirov Premiere (GB) American Oaks (GI, USA) Win 2005 Hat Trick 4/26/01 Sunday Silence (USA) Tricky Code (USA) Hong Kong Mile (GI, HK) Win Heart’s Cry 4/15/01 Sunday Silence (USA) Irish Dance Dubai Sheema Classic (GI, UAE) Win Cosmo Bulk 2/10/01 Zagreb (USA) Iseno Tosho International Cup (GI, Singapore) Win 2006 Delta Blues 5/3/01 Dance in the Dark Dixie Splash (USA) Melbourne Cup (GI, Australia) Win Melbourne Cup (GI, Australia) Second Pop Rock 3/19/01 (FR) Pops One-two finish for Japan-trained horses Admire Moon 2/23/03 End Sweep (USA) My Katies Dubai Duty Free (GI, UAE) Win 2007 Shadow Gate 3/23/02 (GB) Fabulous Turn International Cup (GI, Singapore) Win International Cup (GI, Singapore) Second Cosmo Bulk 2/10/01 Zagreb (USA) Iseno Tosho One-two finish for Japan-trained horses Buena Vista 3/14/06 Special Week Biwa Heidi Dubai Sheema Classic (GI, UAE) Second 2010 Nakayama Festa 4/5/06 Stay Gold Dear Wink Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (GI, France) Second Victoire Pisa 3/31/07 Neo Universe Whitewater Affair(GB) Dubai World Cup (GI, UAE) Win 2011 Dubai World Cup (GI, UAE) Second Transcend 3/9/06 Wild Rush (USA) Cinema Scope One-two finish for Japan-trained horses Rulership 5/15/07 King Kamehameha Air Groove Queen Elizabeth II Cup (GI, HK) Win 2012 Orfevre 5/14/08 Stay Gold Oriental Art Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (GI, France) Second Lord Kanaloa 3/11/08 King Kamehameha Lady Blossom Hong Kong Sprint (GI, HK) Win Orfevre 5/14/08 Stay Gold Oriental Art Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (GI, France) Second 2013 Hong Kong Sprint (GI, HK) Win Lord Kanaloa 3/11/08 King Kamehameha Lady Blossom for the second consecutive time Gentildonna 2/20/09 Deep Impact Donna Blini(GB) Dubai Sheema Classic (GI, UAE) Win Just A Way 3/8/09 Hearts Cry Sibyl Dubai Duty Free (GI, UAE) Win 2014 Hana's Goal 4/24/09 Orewa Matteruze Shanghai Jell All Aged Stakes (GI, Australia) Win Admire Rakti 2/20/08 Hearts Cry Admire Teresa Caulfield Cup (GI, Australia) Win Real Impact 5/14/08 Deep Impact Tokio Reality(USA) George Ryder Stakes (GI, Australia) Win 2015 Maurice 3/2/11 Screen Hero Mejiro Frances Hong Kong Mile (GI, HK) Win A Shin Hikari 5/3/11 Deep Impact Catalina(USA) Hong Kong Cup (GI, HK) Win 3/1/12 Deep Impact Loves Only Me(USA) Dubai Turf (GI, UAE) Win Champions Mile (GI, HK) Win Maurice 3/2/11 Screen Hero Mejiro Frances 2016 Hong Kong Cup (GI, HK) Win A Shin Hikari 5/3/11 Deep Impact Catalina(USA) Prix d'Ispahan (GI, France) Win Satono Crown 3/10/12 Marju(IRE) Jioconda(IRE) Hong Kong Vase (GI, HK) Win All JRA flat graded races have been opened to foreign-trained horses since 2010.

44 | HORSE RACING IN JAPAN 2017 References

On December 1, 2010, the “Japan Association for Activities: International Horse racing (JAIR),” which promotes the 1. Registration globalization of Japanese racing and mutual JAIRS conducts “Foal Registration,” which is to verify understanding with race organizations in other countries, pedigree and identity, and “Breeding Registration,” which and the “Japan Race Horse Registry (JRHR),” a central is to ensure the breeding record of the horse to be used as body for the registration of Japanese racehorses, merged breeding stock. JAIRS examines all horses applied for into a single body, the Japan Association for International such registration and issues certificate when registration is Racing and Stud Book (JAIRS). JAIRS now handles completed. activities as a channel for a broad range of fields connected with racing industries all over the world. 2. Overseas Racing Bulletin Mission: Periodical newsletter to provide Japanese racing connections/fans with information on overseas horse - Collection and dissemination of horse racing-related racing. information, both domestic and abroad.

- Exchange of information on techniques for the conduct 3. ARF Study Programs of horse racing and the raising (training) of racehorse Training programs for personnel from the Asian Racing with persons connected with horse racing from abroad. Federation to introduce Japan’s horse racing system and - Conduct and support of international events relating to provide opportunities to promote exchange of horse racing and participation in international conferences. information and international goodwill among member - Registration of racehorses and the issuance of countries. Courses are divided into regular and registration certificates. specialized study programs. Over 400 participants have - Registration for the stud book and other books/records attended this program to date. relating to horse racing and breeding.

Website: 4. Publication of Stud Book JAIRS publishes all breeding records in Japan, as well http://japanracing.jp/ (most up-to-date news on Japanese as import and export of horses, on the internet as Japanese racing, full coverage of all JRA races and local principal Stud Book Database. races, provided in English, Chinese, Korean, French) http://www.studbook.jp/ (Japanese Stud Book Database 5. Naming in English, Japanese) Upon receipt of application, JAIRS examines proposed http://www.jairs.jp/ (Overseas horse racing information names according to international and domestic rules and and domestic registration information in Japanese) determines the name of the horse.

Japan Association for International Racing and Stud Book(JAIRS)

6th Floor, JRA Shimbashi Bunkan Building,

4-5-4 Shimbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 105-0004, Japan

Tel: +81-3434-5002

Fax:+81-3432-4668

URL : http://japanracing.jp/ (English, Chinese, Korean, French)

http://www.studbook.jp/en/ (English)

45 | References

JAPAN RACING ASSOCIATION (JRA)

■ International Department JRA Head Office, Roppongi Hills Gate Tower, 6-11-1, Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo 106-8401, JAPAN TEL:+81-3-5785-7373 / FAX:+81-3-5785-7376 Email: [email protected] / URL: http://japanracing.jp/ http://jra.jp/ (Japanese)

■ JRA London Representative Office 4th Floor, 11 Argyll Street, London W1F 7TH, UNITED KINGDOM TEL:+44-20-7437-5053 / FAX:+44-20-7734-1984 Email: [email protected]

〔In Paris〕 Ms. Ayako Noda 46 Place Abel Gance 92655 Boulogne Cedex, FRANCE Tel: +33-1-4910-9137 / +33-6-7942-5243 (Mobile) Email: [email protected]

■ JRA New York Representative Office 300 Main Street, Suite 401, Stamford, CT 06901, U.S.A. TEL:+1-203-973-0661 / FAX:+1-203-973-0665 Email: [email protected]

■ JRA Hong Kong Representative Office 1705, Prosperity Millennia Plaza, 663 King's Road, North Point, Hong Kong TEL:+852-2840-1566 / FAX:+852-2840-1397 Email: [email protected]

■ JRA Sydney Representative Office Suite 22, Level 26, 44 Market Street, Sydney NSW 2000 AUSTRALIA TEL:+ 61-2-9089-8884 / FAX:+ 61-2-9089-8849 Email: [email protected]

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF RACING (NAR)

2-2-1, Azabudai, Minato-ku, Tokyo 106-8639, JAPAN Tel: +81-3-3583-6841 / Fax: +81-3-3585-0481 Email: [email protected] / URL: http://www.keiba.go.jp/guide/english/index.html http://www.keiba.go.jp/ (Japanese)

Please visit the following URL for other JRA institutions and related organizations: http://japanracing.jp/en/about/jra_organization/

46 | HORSE RACING IN JAPAN 2017